Wars harm climate action because large militaries emit a lot and military spending diverts money away from tackling climate change
By Nick Buxton and Deborah Burton, Climate Change News
The failure of the richest countries to meet their 2009 commitment to provide $100 billion in climate finance to impoverished and climate vulnerable countries has long sowed distrust and hindered climate negotiations.
The broken promise is even more stark, given President Biden’s request to Congress this October for $105 billion additional funding to pay for Israel’s devastating war on Gaza and to support Ukraine against Russia.
Resources that never materialise to address the climate emergency seem to be easily available when it comes to supporting wars. As we approach the UN climate talks in Dubai, the impact of war and the military on the climate can no longer be ignored.
Big Emitters
The failure to assess the military contribution to climate change historically is partly deliberate.
The US government in 1997 said it would only sign the Kyoto agreement if the military were explicitly exempted from reporting and reducing emissions.
Recent Posts
Putin Warns Of ‘Direct’ War As U.S. Mulls Letting Ukraine Use Long-Range Western Missiles
Take Action Now “It is a question of deciding whether or not NATO countries are directly involved in a military conflict,” said Russian…
Biden’s Legacy: The Decline Of Arms Control And Disarmament
Take Action Now The only remaining nuclear disarmament treaty—the New START Treaty—expires in February 2026, and there is no indication that U.S. and…
Both Presidential Candidates Agree: We Need To Stop Arresting People For Marijuana
Take Action Now Further proof that an issue once considered a political hot button has gone mainstream. By Paul Armentano, OtherWords At a time…
Here Are The Members Of Congress Invested In War
Take Action Now More than 50 members of Congress own stock in defense contractors whose profits are soaring from giant Pentagon budgets and…