"F-35 Emits 2.5 Tons of Greenhouse Gases Per Flight"... The Hidden Enemy of Carbon Neutrality: The Military [Science Insight]

7-Minute Flight Emits as Much CO2 as One Police Car in a Year
Military Equipment Greenhouse Gas Emissions Exceed Those of Aviation and Shipping Industries
Nature: "Military Forces Worldwide Must Take Responsibility, Assess Current Status, and Develop Countermeasures"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] The military forces of countries around the world, especially the United States, have been identified as a "hidden enemy" hindering the achievement of the 2050 carbon neutrality goal to combat global warming.

According to the international academic journal Nature on the 4th, the greenhouse gas emissions from militaries worldwide are predicted to account for at least 1% and up to 5% of the total emissions. In some cases, this may exceed the 2% emissions from the aviation and shipping industries, yet no one has a clear understanding of the current situation. The main issue is that most countries show no willingness to improve.

For example, the U.S. military, which possesses the largest armed forces globally, has an unparalleled level of greenhouse gas emissions. The carbon emissions per U.S. soldier reach a staggering 42 tons, and the U.S. military’s renowned stealth fighter jet, the F-35, emits 2.5 tons of carbon dioxide?equivalent to what a British police car emits in one year?every time it flies 100 nautical miles (185.2 km). Flying at a top speed of 1,600 km/h, it takes only about 7 minutes to exceed the annual emissions of one police car.

The pollution caused by the jet fuel consumed annually by the U.S. military is comparable to that emitted by 6 million passenger cars in the United States. The total carbon dioxide emissions from the U.S. military have already surpassed the national totals of countries such as Switzerland, Ghana, and New Zealand. If considered as a country, it would rank 54th in the world, which is enormous.

Abrams tank, the main battle tank of the United States

In response, countries around the world remain silent. The issue is not included in reports published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which was formed to implement the 2050 carbon neutrality goal, nor is it discussed at United Nations (UN) climate summits.

The United States bears much of the blame. When the Kyoto Protocol on climate change was signed in 1997, the U.S. strongly lobbied to exclude military greenhouse gas emissions from the agreement, citing national security reasons, and ultimately succeeded. Only recently, with rising awareness, have some countries including the U.S. and the United Kingdom reported their military greenhouse gas emissions and disclosed reduction plans. Among the 27 European Union (EU) member countries, 10 have acknowledged the necessity, and 7 of these have set reduction targets and are implementing them.

However, most countries with large militaries such as Russia, China, and India remain indifferent, neither compiling statistics nor preparing countermeasures for their greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, a globally shared method for calculating and reporting emissions has yet to be developed.

Nature pointed out, "Countries worldwide must take responsible attitudes toward military greenhouse gas emissions and devise solutions through the UN or climate-related summits. They need to develop the capability to verify and reduce emissions and study how military conflicts affect climate and society. Most importantly, militaries must take responsibility and comply with obligations based on the outcomes of UN discussions."