World Climate and Security Report 2024: Military Innovation and the Climate Challenge

The report argues that while military R&D alone cannot solve the climate challenge due to long equipment lifecycles, a comprehensive approach combining innovation, policy changes, and procurement can significantly reduce emissions. It highlights the transition to low-carbon technologies in operations (such as sustainable aviation fuels and hybrid vehicles), the decarbonization of fixed infrastructure through microgrids and small modular reactors, and the need to address Scope 3 emissions within the defense industrial supply chain. The authors emphasize that procurement is the most powerful tool for militaries to catalyze clean energy markets and steer the defense industry toward net-zero goals.

• Military research and development (R&D) is limited as a sole solution for climate mitigation because the decades-long lifecycle of operational equipment means large-scale implementation of new technologies requires an extended transition period.
• Procurement and acquisition are identified as the most influential tools for decarbonization, as military budgets can steer markets toward sustainability even while prioritizing missions.
• Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) are the most viable short-to-medium term solution for reducing aviation emissions, with the potential to reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel.
• The US Department of Defense reported 51 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCO2e) in 2021, with jet fuel accounting for 50% of total emissions and 80% of operational emissions.
• Active conflict causes significant spikes in emissions; for example, the war in Ukraine from February 2022 to September 2023 is estimated to have caused 150 MMTCO2e, though only a quarter of this was from direct military operations.
• Microgrids and small modular reactors (SMRs) are highlighted as critical for increasing the energy resilience and autonomy of military installations, reducing dependence on national grids and fossil fuels.
• Scope 3 emissions, which include the military supply chain and the defense industry, often constitute the majority of military-related emissions, yet reporting in this area is inconsistent and frequently omitted.
• The EU's taxonomy currently creates a financial barrier for the defense industry by classifying companies with more than 5% of sales from military activities as unsustainable, limiting their access to green credit.
• Climate change acts as a 'threat multiplier' or 'crisis multiplier,' increasing the frequency of natural disasters and straining military resources through increased demands for Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR).

APA

Conger, J., Havstrup, E., Jasper, L., Jonkers, L., Patrahau, I., Ramdani, S., van Schaik, L., & Tasse, J. (2024). World Climate and Security Report 2024: Military Innovation and the Climate Challenge. The Council on Strategic Risks. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2024/07/10/world-climate-and-security-report-2024/

Chicago

Conger, John, Emil Havstrup, Laura Jasper, Lennaert Jonkers, Irina Patrahau, Sami Ramdani, Louise van Schaik, and Julia Tasse. World Climate and Security Report 2024: Military Innovation and the Climate Challenge. The Council on Strategic Risks, 2024. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2024/07/10/world-climate-and-security-report-2024/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Conger |first1=John |last2=Havstrup |first2=Emil |last3=Jasper |first3=Laura |last4=Jonkers |first4=Lennaert |last5=Patrahau |first5=Irina |last6=Ramdani |first6=Sami |last7=van Schaik |first7=Louise |last8=Tasse |first8=Julia |title=World Climate and Security Report 2024: Military Innovation and the Climate Challenge |publisher=The Council on Strategic Risks |date=10 July 2024 |url=https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2024/07/10/world-climate-and-security-report-2024/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{conger2024world, author = {Conger, John and Havstrup, Emil and Jasper, Laura and Jonkers, Lennaert and Patrahau, Irina and Ramdani, Sami and van Schaik, Louise and Tasse, Julia}, title = {{World Climate and Security Report 2024: Military Innovation and the Climate Challenge}}, institution = {The Council on Strategic Risks}, year = {2024}, month = jul, url = {https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2024/07/10/world-climate-and-security-report-2024/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }