If we want to save the world, we need to demolish weapons and retrain soldiers

It is currently not possible with defense. Last week, the cabinet announced that the armed forces may buy new war equipment for 5 billion euros: six extra F-35 fighter jets, four new Reapers (large drones with which bombs can be thrown), military helicopters and much more deadly weaponry. Unfortunately, the question is never raised about what the purchase of these weapons means for the climate crisis.

That question is certainly not far-fetched, because research shows that armed forces worldwide are responsible for a considerable percentage of the total annual CO2 emissions (comparable to the emissions of a medium-sized country such as Sweden) and therefore contribute significantly to global warming.

Climate goals

In the Netherlands, the army is well aware of the climate crisis. Defense has set itself the goal of using 20 percent less fossil fuels by 2030 and 70 percent by 2050. To achieve this, solar panels are being placed on barracks, among other things.

It should be clear that these objectives and measures are far too ineffective. To avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change, CO2 emissions must be zero by 2050. Of course, this also applies to the armed forces. It is therefore wry to conclude that part of the extra money for defense comes directly from cutbacks in climate and nitrogen policy.

The question arises as to how the government and defense expect to achieve their (own) climate goals if they continue to invest in highly polluting war material, which the army will have to fly, drive and sail with for many years to come. For example, it is known that the new F-35 fighter jet consumes 60 percent more fuel than the old F-16, resulting in much more CO2 and nitrogen emissions. In comparison: one full tank of an F-35 (good for about 2,200 kilometers of flying) is equivalent to the annual average consumption of more than 15 (fossil) cars.

As long as defense is responsible for the use of gigantic amounts of raw materials, equipment and fuel in the production of weapons, during wars, missions and during training, the armed forces will not provide ‘peace and security’. On the contrary; the military contributes enormously to the greatest threat that threatens us today: global warming.

In addition, many armed conflicts in the world are already caused by the consequences of the climate crisis, such as water and food shortages, and by extreme drought, which disproportionately affects different continents, countries and populations. Large groups of people are forced to leave their residential area and look elsewhere for a livable place. Which in turn leads to new conflicts and military intervention, resulting in further global warming.

Vicious circle

It is a depressing vicious circle with only one conclusion: every investment in the military apparatus contributes directly to the destruction of the earth, and more specifically our own habitat. Because, as we now know, the climate crisis poses an exceptionally great security risk for the Netherlands. It could just be that within a few generations a significant part of the Netherlands will be under water due to the rise in temperature. Will foreign soldiers then stop the Dutch climate refugees at their borders, as is now happening with refugees elsewhere in Europe?

Anyone who really wants to work for peace, security and international stability should therefore focus on combating climate change. This certainly does not require weapons, let alone additional billions in investments in the armed forces. It is also questionable whether young people will see a future in a career in the armed forces due to the planned increase in wages for soldiers. Perhaps they would rather ‘fight’ against the climate crisis than against young people from other countries?

Wouldn’t it make more sense to do the exact opposite? The drastic downsizing – or rather abolishing it – of the polluting military apparatus? Let’s demolish and recycle weaponry and retrain soldiers. Installing heat pumps, installing solar panels, building windmills and planting trees; there is plenty of work that really contributes to peace, security and a better living environment.

Dirk Kuiken is a member of the action collective Vliegop! and co-organizer of the Peace Bloc during the Climate March on 19 June in Rotterdam.