The Environmental Impacts of the UK Military Sector

The report finds that the UK military-industrial sector is a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, estimating a total carbon footprint of 11 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent for UK military spending in 2018. It criticizes the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for selective reporting, noting that figures in the main text of annual reports cover less than one-third of total direct emissions. Beyond climate impacts, the document highlights a poor record in managing radioactive waste from nuclear submarines and warheads, and warns of catastrophic global cooling and famine should the UK launch its nuclear weapons. The author argues that only a fundamental shift in security strategy—away from long-range force projection toward territorial defence and human security—can align the military sector with climate goals.

• The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is accused of selective reporting in its annual reports, with the author estimating that the figures provided in the main text represent less than one-third of the MOD's total direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
• Using a production-based approach, the UK military-industrial sector's GHG emissions for the 2017–18 financial year were estimated at 6.5 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, a figure exceeding the direct CO2 emissions of approximately 60 nations.
• The total carbon footprint of UK military spending in 2018, using a consumption-based approach, was approximately 11 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, which is more than 11 times the figures quoted in the main text of MOD annual reports.
• BAE Systems is identified as the largest GHG emitter among UK-based arms companies, accounting for roughly 30% of the total emissions for the national arms industry.
• The report suggests that significant reductions in military GHG emissions are unlikely due to planned spending increases, the expansion of overseas bases, and the deployment of high-energy vehicles like the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.
• The MOD and its contractors are described as having a poor multi-decade record of managing radioactive waste, characterized by spiralling costs, major delays, and occasional prosecutions for safety and environmental lapses.
• The UK's retired nuclear submarine program is severely delayed; 20 submarines have been retired since 1980, but none have completed full disposal, leaving over 4,500 tonnes of hazardous material to be managed.
• The Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) at Aldermaston stores approximately four million litres of radioactive waste in about 19,500 drums, some of which are beyond their design life and require urgent repackaging.
• The report concludes that the launch of UK nuclear weapons could cause catastrophic global cooling and a 'nuclear famine' by injecting smoke into the atmosphere and blocking solar radiation, similar to scenarios modeled for regional nuclear wars.
• The MOD is largely exempt from civilian environmental regulations under Crown Immunity, relying instead on internal Safety and Environmental Management Systems (SEMS) that lack consistent external verification.

APA

Parkinson, S. (2020). The Environmental Impacts of the UK Military Sector. Scientists for Global Responsibility. https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/2020-05/SGR-DUK_UK_Military_Env_Impacts.pdf

Chicago

Parkinson, Stuart. The Environmental Impacts of the UK Military Sector. Scientists for Global Responsibility, 2020. https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/2020-05/SGR-DUK_UK_Military_Env_Impacts.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Parkinson |first1=Stuart |title=The Environmental Impacts of the UK Military Sector |publisher=Scientists for Global Responsibility |date=May 2020 |url=https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/2020-05/SGR-DUK_UK_Military_Env_Impacts.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{parkinson2020environmental, author = {Parkinson, Stuart}, title = {{The Environmental Impacts of the UK Military Sector}}, institution = {Scientists for Global Responsibility}, year = {2020}, month = may, url = {https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/2020-05/SGR-DUK_UK_Military_Env_Impacts.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }