Following on from our COP27 Official Side Event in Egypt entitled Dealing with military and conflict related emissions under the UNFCCC. TPNS were co-organisers of a 4-speaker side event at the Bonn Climate Conference in June. The event would also address military emissions.
SIDE EVENT
Our session was entitled ‘Closing the Global Stocktake’s military emissions gap’. Deborah Burton’s contribution focussed on the positive correlation between military spending and military emissions. The room was fairly full and excellent feedback received after the event – mainly ‘we didn’t know this issue was so big and so off radar’. Many follow-up conversations took place during the remainder of the conference addressing both emissions and military spending
The side event built on our submission to the Global Stocktake, signed by Conflict and Environment Observatory, Concrete Impacts, Costs of War Project, Norwegian People’s Aid, Scientists for Global Responsibility, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Zoï Environment Network, and Tipping Point North South. A poster was produced for the GST TD poster session to accompany this submission.
MEETINGS were held with both IPCC and UNFCCC senior figures where we are able to advance our calls for an IPCC Special Report and the need for a submission to the UNFCCC concerning military emissions. Introductory conversations also took place with various civil society organisations about our cuts to military spending proposals. The Quaker UN Office produced a publication on Fair Finance for L&D cites TPNS 5% formula.
OVERALL those of us at Bonn who were there to speak to and raise awareness on the missing military emissions felt that the message was heard and well received. Action is overdue and urgent on this issue as well as all other related emissions. We have just 5 years to turn the emissions tanker around. The mood at the conference was one of anger, urgency, disappointment and deep scepticism about the desire of the Dubai COP organisers to make the urgent progress needed when they are giving prominence to oil companies attending COP28. Loss and Damage, indigenous rights and youth participation were loud and clear in the face of a climate conference that was floundering a lot of the time.
We wait to see what Dubai holds.
Links
Video: Side Event Presentations Deborah Burton & Full Side Event
Presentation: Perspectives Climate Group, Axel Michaelowa (PDF)
Transcript of Deborah Burton’s presentation.
Media: TPNS quotes in Deutsche Welle
“At 5.5% of global emissions, the big fossil fuel-reliant militaries of the world have a significant part to play in reduction and mitigation,” said Deborah Burton, a conflict emissions expert at UK-based non-profit, Tipping Point North South, who is also part of a military emissions panel at the climate summit in Bonn.
Tipping Point North South 