NATO defense buildup: A looming climate crisis?
Military operations account for over 5.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The planned increase in NATO's military capacity will significantly impact the planet. The latest report from the Conflict and Environment Observatory indicates that this rise could be as much as 220 million tons annually.
According to the report from the Conflict and Environment Observatory (CEOBS), NATO's planned increase in military capacity could result in a rise in greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 220 million tons annually. Experts point out that such an increase in spending could exacerbate the climate crisis and lead to an increase in the number of conflicts around the world.
Wars account for 5.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions
According to estimates by CEOBS and a group of scientists promoting global responsibility, daily military operations could be responsible for about 5.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This means that if the armed forces worldwide were treated as a single nation, they would rank fourth on the list of the planet's largest polluters.
Report co-author and climate specialist Lennard de Klerk, in an interview with the British daily "Guardian," noted that military equipment and weapons consist of substantial amounts of steel and aluminum, whose production is highly emissive.
According to the Polish Press Agency, three years of full-scale war led by Russia against Ukraine resulted in 287 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. This is equivalent to the annual emissions of Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia combined. Meanwhile, emissions from the first 60 days of Israel's conflict in the Gaza Strip exceeded the annual emissions of 20 countries and territories.
According to Global Peace Index data, in 2023, as many as 108 countries increased their military spending. In the face of ongoing armed conflicts in 92 countries, such as Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, South Sudan, or the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and rising tensions between China and the USA over Taiwan, as well as worsening relations between India and Pakistan, many governments are investing substantial resources in their armed forces out of fear of the outbreak of war.
Global military spending is increasing
In 2023, global military spending reached a record level of 2.7 trillion dollars. Russia's invasion of Ukraine contributed to a sharp increase in arms expenditures in European Union countries. From 2021 to 2024, total military spending by member states increased by over 30%. It is estimated that in 2024 it reached a value of 344 billion dollars, which is about 1.9% of the EU countries' GDP, almost reaching NATO's target of 2%.
