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What’s the impact of war on the climate? – The Climate Question podcast, BBC World Service

BBC World Service

15K views 2 months ago

Warm-up Questions

From the title, what do you think “the impact of war on the climate” could include?
What kinds of activities during war might affect the climate more than people expect?
Why do you think a podcast episode would ask a question like this now?

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What’s the impact of war on the climate? – The Climate Question podcast, BBC World Service

Introducing the topic: the hidden climate cost of war (00:00 – 06:32)

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1. What is the main question the programme is asking?

Why countries build overseas bases
What the climate cost of war is
How to end wars quickly
Who is right and who is wrong in the conflict

2. About how much CO2 equivalent did researchers estimate for the Gaza war (including pre- and post-conflict activities)?

237 million tonnes
33.2 million tonnes
3.32 million tonnes
47 million metric tonnes

3. Roughly how much CO2 equivalent has the large-scale invasion of Ukraine emitted (as mentioned here)?

237 million tonnes
5% of global emissions
33.2 million tonnes
22% of global emissions

What’s the impact of war on the climate? – The Climate Question podcast, BBC World Service

US military scale, peacetime emissions, and why data is limited (06:32 – 16:40)

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1. Why does Neta Crawford describe the US military as “sui generis”?

Because it has no aircraft carriers
Because it is unlike any other military in the world in size and capability
Because it only operates inside the United States
Because it uses no fuel in wartime

2. According to Crawford, about what percentage of US military emissions in peacetime comes from installations (bases needing heat, electricity, cooling, water)?

3. What is one main reason given for why militaries don’t report their emissions clearly?

They argue it is a national security issue and reporting has been voluntary
They are exempt from all international climate agreements forever
They only report emissions during wartime
They don’t measure emissions at all

What’s the impact of war on the climate? – The Climate Question podcast, BBC World Service

Can militaries decarbonize? Security dilemmas, electrification, and climate-driven instability (16:40 – 24:23)

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1. What does Crawford say would create the “real savings” in military emissions?

Replacing concrete with wood in all bunkers
Only switching all ships to nuclear power
Changing training/operations and reducing bases where missions are less important
Stopping all reporting to the UN

2. What is the “security dilemma” described as?

An action-reaction cycle where one side’s protection can seem threatening to the other
A climate treaty requirement
A technical problem with jet engines
A rule that militaries must always expand

3. Why are militaries concerned about extreme weather, according to the discussion?

Because it can make operations difficult, like landing on melted tarmac or moving vehicles when bases flood
Because it reduces the need for training
Because it makes overseas bases unnecessary
Because it makes weapons cheaper to build

What’s the impact of war on the climate? – The Climate Question podcast, BBC World Service

Transcript will load here…

1. Which is the best summary of the episode’s main idea?

Only the United States creates military emissions
Military emissions come from combat, preparation, logistics, and long-term systems like bases and procurement
If militaries electrify, war will have no environmental impact
War affects only local environments, not the global climate

2. Why is it difficult to compare the carbon footprints of different wars?

Because factors like geography, duration, ecological sensitivity, and types of weapons vary
Because researchers refuse to study wars
Because all wars use exactly the same weapons
Because emissions only come from cement production

3. What policy direction is suggested as a way to reduce the emissions-escalation cycle?

Keeping emissions data secret to improve efficiency
Building more overseas bases to reduce travel
Increasing military spending to deter all conflicts
Mutual force reductions and arms control negotiations to resolve conflicts peacefully

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

What’s the impact of war on the climate? – The Climate Question podcast, BBC World Service

The guests say reconstruction may be one of the largest emitting factors. Do you agree? What kinds of rebuilding create the most emissions?
Should militaries be required to report their emissions publicly? Why or why not?
If a country reduces overseas bases, what could be the benefits and risks for security and for emissions?
The episode suggests funding climate adaptation could reduce conflict risk. What are practical examples of that kind of help?