By Gary Butterfield, Previous President of San Diego Veterans For Peace
Who is the world’s single largest institutional consumer of fossil fuels and emitter of greenhouse gases? It may come as a surprise to many of you, but the answer is the US military. In fact, if the Department of Defense were a country, it would rank 47th (out of 170) on the world’s ranking of carbon dioxide polluting countries, between Peru and Portugal. The U.S. Air Force holds the dubious distinction of being the world’s largest user of jet fuel. For example, each Thunderbird (or Blue Angels) team that flies overhead (for our entertainment) uses approximately 18,200 gallons of jet fuel per hour. So, if the “show” lasts 40 minutes, that’s about 82,500 pounds of jet fuel, which releases 118 metric tons of carbon dioxide plus the smaller particulates that are emblematic of the combustion of fossil fuel. So think about these numbers when we are “entertained” by that patriotic flyover at the next sporting event. Consider that when the Navy decides to share their “love of aviation” with us this September.
The Pentagon also maintains over 800 bases in foreign countries, creating extensive and wasteful supply lines. Each of the Army’s 60,000 Humvees gets 4 to 8 miles per gallon of diesel fuel; the M1 Abrams tank gets about 0.6 mpg.
Add in toxic spills, Agent Orange, burn pits, depleted uranium and unexploded ordnance and you have the profile of a very large, very irresponsible public organization. One that, indeed, is contributing significantly to climate degradation while creating climate refugees in its wake. And more and more attention is now being paid to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as forever chemicals, which don’t break down in the environment and are tied to cancer and other health ailments. PFAS are used widely in industrial and household products, but, very specifically, are used extensively in military firefighting foam. The very same foam used in dousing the air show’s celebratory wall of fire.
If that’s true why haven’t we heard about it? Why wasn’t news of this prolific polluter on the lips of every climate activist from 350.org to my local church’s Climate Justice Committee, demanding an accounting and reduction of such prolific and unabated pollution? How could an entire Movement overlook and omit one of its greatest perpetrators?
In hindsight this ignorance of the military’s emissions and role in worsening the climate crisis was the result of a willful and sustained initiative by the US government at the highest levels to cloud military emissions in secrecy on the basis of “national security” and prevent an accurate and transparent reporting of such emissions. Dating back to one of the first international meetings on limiting greenhouse gas emissions in Kyoto in 1997, the US lobbied heavily to exempt many military emissions from being counted. This Kyoto Protocol was adopted internationally but ultimately the US never ratified it. Subsequent international agreements fail to require accurate and transparent reporting of military emissions. So, no public noise, no public uproar, and no public acknowledgement of the problem.
While we private citizens are implored to reduce our carbon footprints by modifying our daily behaviors the number one emitter continues to go unchecked and unnoticed.
I am a native San Diegan and I care deeply about our area’s livability. San Diego has a long history as a mecca for military service members. Today, in fact, San Diego has the highest concentration of active duty military in the country, as well as a substantial number of military retirees. The Rady School of Business at UCSD estimates that the military and defense industry in San Diego account for nearly 25% of the Region’s economy. What impact does this influence have on our climate and environment? How can we find out more about military pollution?
You can learn more about it by attending two upcoming events. The first will be a panel discussion sponsored by the Interfaith Coalition for Earth Justice, Veterans For Peace and the Peace Resource Center, “Wars Rage As the World Burns” Friday September 26th at 7 PM at the Church of the Brethren, 3850 Westgate Pl, San Diego 92105. Please register here. The second will be the film, “Earth’s Greatest Enemy”, to be shown at 7 PM, Saturday, September 27th, at 1st UU Church, 4190 Front St, San Diego 92103. Free event; tell the parking attendant you are attending a church event.