Congresswoman Barbara Lee Introduces Resolution to Monitor and Reduce US Military's Carbon Footprint

Strategic Insights -

Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) has introduced a resolution aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of the US military, which is the single largest institutional source of greenhouse gas emissions on the planet. The resolution calls for the Department of Defense to set clear annual emission reduction targets in line with global goals in the 2015 Paris Agreement and the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022. The US military is estimated to emit more CO2 than over 120 separate countries and would rank forty-seventh out of 170 if measured as a separate country.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US military's carbon footprint is estimated to be equivalent to over 120 separate countries and would rank forty-seventh out of 170 if measured as a separate country.
  • The Department of Defense is required to set clear annual emission reduction targets in line with global goals in the 2015 Paris Agreement and the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022.
  • The military does not currently publicly and regularly report its overall fuel consumption or greenhouse gas emissions.
  • The resolution calls for the Department of Defense to commit to strict, transparent, and independently verified reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from both domestic and overseas operations.
  • Experts agree that global warming at or above 2 degrees Celsius beyond pre-industrialized levels will cause severe harm to the climate systems that allow life to survive on this planet.
  • The resolution declares it the duty of the Department of Defense to monitor, track, and report greenhouse gas emissions from all its operations.
  • Current cosponsors of the resolution include Representatives Nanette Barragan, Karen Bass, Joyce Beatty, Earl Blumenauer, Sean Casten, Emanuel Cleaver, Anna Eshoo, Adriano Espaillat, Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, Jared Huffman, Henry "Hank" Johnson, Ted Lieu, James McGovern, Gwen Moore, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Rashida Tlaib, Ro Khanna, and Peter Welch.

Statistics:

  • The US military's carbon footprint is estimated to be equivalent to over 120 separate countries.
  • The US military would rank forty-seventh out of 170 if measured as a separate country.
  • Global warming at or above 2 degrees Celsius beyond pre-industrialized levels will cause severe harm to the climate systems that allow life to survive on this planet.
  • Hundreds of billions of dollars in losses per year in some sectors of the US economy by the end of this century.
  • More than 350 million more people exposed globally to deadly heat stress by 2050.
  • Potential damages in the range of $1 trillion to public infrastructure and coastal real estate in the United States.

Sources:

  • Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13)
  • Office of Representative Barbara Lee
  • Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin
  • Veterans For Peace Climate Crisis and Militarism Project
  • Alliance for Democracy
  • Brave New Films
  • CODEPINK
  • Friends of the Earth US
  • Food and Water Watch
  • Grannies for Peace
  • Greenpeace USA
  • Lobby for Climate/Change the Chamber
  • National Lawyers Guild
  • Military Law Task Force
  • Native Americans Veterans Association
  • Pax Christi USA
  • Physicians for Social Responsibility
  • Progressive Democrats of America
  • RootsAction
  • Win Without War