Whereas, Scientists for Global Responsibility states that 6% of annual world-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions can be attributed to global militaries, yet NATO fails to reveal how it determines its own emissions; and
Whereas, the US Department of Defense (DoD), as the world’s largest institutional producer of (GHG) emissions, is a sizable contributor to the climate catastrophe; and
Whereas, the United States ensured that military emissions reporting to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was excluded in the Kyoto Protocol, allowing the DoD to avoid public scrutiny; and
Whereas, the DoD 2021 GHG emissions reporting to the UNFCCC did not separate non-military from military emissions; assessed as “very significant under-reporting”; and
Whereas, the failure to include military emissions and projected reduction targets in the U.S. Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) exemplifies what Antonio Guterres warns is the “Criminal Abdication of Leadership”; and
Whereas, the UNFCCC Reporting protocols, themselves. are woefully inadequate,
Therefore Be it Resolved that Veterans For Peace take immediate action to prepare and circulate an uncompromising, public statement calling for governments to require annual military emissions reporting to the UNFCCC consistent with the 1.5oC target specified by the 2015 Paris Agreement, commit to reporting mechanisms that are robust, comparable and transparent, are based on the GHG protocol, are independently verifiable, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and contain clear reduction targets for military technology, and are inclusive of manufacturing and supply lines, overseas bases, bunker fuels, and war-related emissions.
Be it further resolved that Veterans For Peace endeavors to collaborate with organizations world-wide to:
- Exert unrelenting pressure on militarized government to demand immediate and meaningful steps to properly track, scope, and report military emissions at all levels and
- Pressure the UNFCCC to mandate, update, broaden, and clarify military emissions reporting protocols of all militarized governments as indicated.
Submitted by Cindy Piester, VFP Chapter 112 - Ventura, CA
VFP Climate Crisis and Militarism Project
Co-Sponsored by:
VFP, Japan
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, US
Daniel Ellsberg
Ann Wright
Matthew Hoh
Ray McGovern
Board Supports Resolution
Convention Vote:
Yes: 43
No: 0
Abstain: 1