Greening Defence: Framing the Stakes for Industrial and Military Capabilities

The ARES Comment Series “Greening Defence: Framing the Stakes for Industrial and Military Capabilities” aims to explore the interplay between environmental sustainability and defence preparedness  in the context of Europe’s ongoing push for strategic autonomy and industrial ramp up. While military needs are immediate and pressing, climate imperatives are equally urgent — and addressing them will yield long-term benefits. What trade-offs and opportunities lie in the push for « greening » defence?

Through thematic – rather than national – comments, the series will tackle the issue from multiple angles, addressing key objectives such as reindustrialization and decarbonization, military superiority and environmental responsibility. The series will also dive into core issues such as the measurement and mitigation of emissions across defence value chains, the integration of environmental criteria in public procurement, and the role of the European Union and national institutions in fostering coherence between climate and security agendas. The series should investigate the potential of innovation, while also analysing dependencies on critical raw materials and implications for supply chain resilience.

Taken together, these comments aim to provide a holistic reflection on what “greening defence” could realistically look like – acknowledging the constraints, while also identifying the levers and strategic opportunities for embedding sustainability in the defence sector.