Net Zero Militaries (NETZMIL): Retaining Operational Effectiveness in a Low Carbon World

Defence is the single largest institutional consumer of hydrocarbons in the world. In the UK, the defence sector accounts for approximately 50% of central government greenhouse gas emissions. In 2021, responding to growing pressure from civil society and defence industry, both the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) and NATO recognised that the carbon cost of military operations needed to fall. However, academics and policymakers have yet to meaningfully address the implications of 'Net Zero' ambitions for the future character of military operations.

NETZMIL aims to assess the actual and potential impact of the UK Government's Net Zero ambitions on military operations. The project has been co-designed through consultations with key stakeholders from across UK Defence and NATO. Using the UK as a case study, NETZMIL will illuminate key concerns, challenges and opportunities around how militaries in general can retain operational effectiveness whilst supporting the transition to a Net Zero world.

To meet NETZMIL's overall aim, the project asks: (1) to what extent have the British Government's Net Zero targets already influenced UK defence policy, strategy and operations; (2) across UK Defence, what are the key concerns, opportunities and challenges for operational effectiveness arising from Net Zero military operations; and (3) how might adopting a Net Zero approach to military operations interact with other key trends shaping the future character of military operations?

NETZMIL will make novel contributions to the scholarly fields of War Studies and Climate Security Studies by drawing attention to the ways in which the transition to Net Zero could impact the future character of military operations. Up to now, scholarly inquiry has tended to focus on whether climate change could be a cause of war or how it is likely to directly impact military operations. NETZMIL's findings will be communicated to academic audiences through 3 substantial journal articles, as well as presentations at 3 research seminars and 2 academic conferences. The findings will also inform a book proposal.

To benefit non-academic users, NETZMIL will generate new knowledge regarding the opportunities and challenges of 'Net Zero' military operations. This knowledge will be disseminated across UK Defence, NATO and the wider international community through a series of 3 workshops, private briefings and short commentaries.

NETZMIL will also facilitate the creation of an international community of practitioners (academic and non-academic) that will draw upon the findings and insights generated by the project to guide future decisions about policy, strategy and doctrine, nationally and internationally.

The project adopts an innovative and exploratory qualitative methodological approach, drawing on semi-structured interviews and focus groups with participants from UK Defence, as well as international experts and practitioners from organisations such as NATO.