· 2 min read
illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on POLITICO or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Wars and military activities contribute significantly to climate change, yet the Paris Agreement doesn't require nations to report their military emissions
• Sparse and secretive military data makes independent estimates challenging, leading to calls for stricter reporting
🔭 The context: The nonprofit Conflict and Environment Observatory estimates that militaries could be responsible for about 5.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with the U.S. military emitting as much CO2 as some entire countries
• Recent conflicts, like those in Gaza and Ukraine, have emitted hundreds of thousands to millions of metric tons of CO2
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Unreported military emissions hinder global climate efforts and obscure the full extent of national carbon footprints
• Accurate reporting is crucial for effective climate action and achieving international targets
⏭️ What's next: Environmental groups and scientists are advocating for the UN to include military emissions in national climate targets and for improved transparency and reporting from governments worldwide
💬 One quote: "Our climate emergency can no longer afford to permit the ‘business as usual’ omission of military and conflict-related emissions." - Environmental organizations in a letter to the UN
📈 One stat: The first 60 days of the war in Gaza created over 281,000 metric tons of CO2
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