As Europe ramps up defence spending, what’s the hidden cost to the climate?

In this episode of the Climate Solutions News podcast, we speak with Alexis Normand, CEO of carbon accounting platform Greenly, about their new report Rearming Europe: Counting the Carbon Bootprint. The report reveals how NATO’s growing military budgets—and the EU’s €800 billion ReArm Europe initiative—could generate emissions rivaling the annual carbon footprint of the Netherlands, yet remain almost entirely unreported.

Alexis explains why military emissions are such a major blind spot in climate policy, how Greenly calculated the scale of the problem, and what steps governments could take to decarbonise defence without compromising security.

🎧 A must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of geopolitics, emissions accountability, and climate action.

Keywords

military emissions, carbon footprint, climate change, NATO, Greenly, emissions reporting, defense spending, EU Green Deal, decarbonization, climate policy

Takeaways

The military accounts for approximately 5.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

NATO's emissions are projected to reach 256 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2024.

Military emissions are often unreported and unregulated, creating a significant loophole in climate commitments.

Greenlee aims to simplify emissions reporting for businesses, including those in the defense sector.

The EU's rearmament initiative could lead to an additional 150 million tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Security concerns should not overshadow the need for emissions reduction in military operations.

Comprehensive emissions reporting is essential for understanding military impacts on climate change.

Innovative solutions like virtual training can help reduce military emissions.

There is a need for binding emissions targets and transparency in military budgets.

The military sector's spending surge presents an opportunity for broader decarbonization efforts.

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