World Climate and Security Report 2024
This report is a product of the Expert Group of the International Military Council on Climate and Security (IMCCS), a coalition of military leaders, security experts, and institutions worldwide dedicated to anticipating, analysing, and addressing the security risks of a changing climate. The IMCCS Expert Group comprises leaders committed to advancing analysis, policy, and communication on climate and security. They develop, publish, and endorse the World Climate and Security Report and provide timely analysis in response to IMCCS demand signals.
Clingendael researchers Emil Havstrup and Louise van Schaik contributed to Chapter 4 of this report, titled 'Sustainable Security: Reducing Emissions in Military Supply Chains'.
Summary book
With climate impacts accelerating and the energy transition underway, militaries are increasingly considering the carbon footprint of their operations, infrastructure, and supply chains. Today, though there are gaps in measuring, reporting, and reducing these emissions, many countries already have initiatives to reduce their carbon footprint and improve the efficiency of their militaries. This report analyses the urgency of climate change for militaries and explores how military research and innovation might enable both emissions reduction and greater resilience of infrastructure and operations to climate impacts while improving the self-sufficiency of military units and facilities. While the report should be useful to militaries around the world, its recommendations focus on NATO member state militaries.
Chapter 4 'Sustainable Security: Reducing Emissions in Military Supply Chains'
By Emil Havstrup, Lennaert Jonkers and Louise van Schaik
When the relationship between climate change and defense is discussed, the emphasis is often on the impacts of extreme weather events and climate-in duced conflicts. A secondary concern that is only beginning to emerge in the literature is how militaries contribute to climate change as they emit large amounts of carbon, for instance, when operating heavy machinery such as tanks or fighters. This chapter will explore viable opportunities and actions for policymakers to address supply chain emissions and support climate mitigation efforts.
