The North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) substantial military spending in 2023 is being scrutinized for its environmental impact. A new report reveals that NATO’s $1.34 trillion expenditure generated an estimated 233 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent (tCO2e) greenhouse gas emissions, surpassing the annual emissions of countries like Colombia and Qatar.
The report “Climate in the Crosshairs,” a collaborative study by the think tank Transnational Institute, social justice co-operative Tipping Point North South, and anti-arms campaign organisation Stop Wapenhandel, reveals how military expenditure undermines global climate change efforts.
NATO, a political and military alliance of countries from Europe and North America, accounts for 55% of global military spending. The alliance’s $126 billion increase in military spending for 2023 is estimated to result in an additional 31 million tCO2e – equivalent to the annual CO2 emissions of about 6.7 million average US cars.
These figures are troubling considering the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) warning of a 43% emissions reduction by 2030 to limit global temperature increases below 1.5 degrees Celsius. To meet this, a 5% annual reduction in military emissions is needed. However, NATO increased its military emissions by around 15% in 2023.
The environmental impact of military activities is substantial. Military equipment, from aircraft to logistics hubs, consumes enormous amounts of fossil fuels. The need for constant operation and maintenance to maintain combat readiness exacerbates the problem.
NATO’s relatively small 32 member states have a disproportionate global military spending. The United States, NATO’s top spender, accounts for two-thirds of the alliance’s total expenditure, followed by the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Canada, and Spain.
The spending spree has implications beyond the environment. Researchers argue that the massive military investment diverts critical resources from climate action. They suggest that redirecting the increase in NATO’s military spending to climate initiatives could significantly contribute to climate financing for developing countries.
NATO’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) signed a new multinational contract for Stinger missiles worth almost $700 million. This emphasizes the alliance’s focus on military expansion despite environmental concerns.
The report projects that if all NATO members meet the 2% GDP military spending commitment by 2028, the collective military carbon footprint will reach 2 billion tCO2e – more than Russia’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. NATO would spend an estimated additional $2.57 trillion, covering climate adaptation costs for low- and middle-income countries for seven years.
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Decarbonizing the military is challenging, as shown by NATO’s use of combat aircraft like the F-35. Lockheed Martin predicts there will be over 600 F-35s across NATO by 2030. However, these jets consume about 5,600 liters of oil per hour, compared to 3,500 liters for the F-16 fighters they are replacing. With a 30 to 40 year lifespan, this locks in highly polluting systems for decades.
In response to environmental concerns, NATO released its 2024 Climate Change and Security Impact Assessment Report. The report acknowledges that NATO must contend with the impacts of increasing climate change on security. It notes that 2023 and 2024 had more frequent and intense extreme heat, floods across central Europe and the western Balkans, and wildfires in the Mediterranean region and North America.
For the first time, the assessment included an analysis of climate change impacts on “NATO’s potential adversaries and strategic competitors and addresses the climate impact of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.” This acknowledgment suggests a growing awareness of the interplay between military activities and climate change within the alliance.
