Green berets: Climate change ‘firmly a defence problem’ says army chief in new report that recommends the Armed Forces ‘take transformative action’ to become more eco-friendly
- Lt General Richard Nugee led the Climate Change and Sustainability Review
- He said that climate change was ‘changing the way our military fight’
- The report, released today, suggests military vehicles could be electric in future
British Armed Forces must take ‘transformative action’ to become more eco-friendly as it also steps up to take on the globally destabilising impact of climate change, a new report says today.
Lieutenant General Richard Nugee, who led the Climate Change and Sustainability Review, said that climate change was ‘changing the way our military fight, live and train’ and must be addressed.
The report, released today, suggests military vehicles could be electric in future, with others running with fuel and parts that have been made from recycled material.
It points out that the military is currently responsible for half of the Government’s greenhouse gas emissions, with fleets of boats, aircraft and ground vehicles.
In a foreword to the report, Lt Gen Nugee said: ‘The character of warfare is changing fast; so is the climate. Both issues are changing the way our military fight, live and train in unfamiliar ways.
The report, released today, suggests military vehicles could be electric in future, with others running with fuel and parts that have been made from recycled material.
Lt Gen Nugee said: ‘The character of warfare is changing fast; so is the climate. Both issues are changing the way our military fight, live and train in unfamiliar ways.’
‘Linking these issues together, they both demand that we adapt to the new circumstances that we face and take transformative action now.
‘We need to change mindsets, and the way we operate in peace, in war and in persistent competition.
‘Now firmly a Defence problem, climate change is a significant challenge. Without adequate assessment of its effects, we leave ourselves exposed.’
Work is already underway to make military equipment greener, the MoD said.
It includes reducing nitrogen oxide emissions by 95 per cent in the Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) fleet, greener fuels for RAF jets and making military sites across the Uk more environmentally friendly.
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