Environmental reporting and greenhouse gas inventory of the Norwegian defence sector for 2021

The reports in the series “Environmental reporting in the Norwegian defence sector” are published annually by the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) and present data reported by the defence sector and associated partners to the Norwegian Defence Environmental Database (NDED). The reports provide an overview of results and trends for environmental aspects of the defence sector’s operations including waste production, energy expenditure, fuel consumption, use of ammunition, water consumption, chemicals and accidental emissions, and are crucial for the defense sector’s contribution to UN’s sustainability goals. Greenhouse gas emissions are presented in a greenhouse gas inventory. Waste generation is reported to NDED by associated waste management companies contracted within the various regions of the Norwegian Defence Estate Agency (NDEA). The total amount of waste produced in 2021 was 16 195 tons, which represents a 14.5% reduction compared to 2020. The degree of waste sorting was 64.8%, a reduction of 2.1 pp compared to the previous year. 35.3% of the waste was recycled while 57% was processed with energy recovery. Energy consumption associated with the defence sector’s buildings and properties in Norway is reported by NDEA through statistics from suppliers. The total energy consumption in buildings and other properties is estimated to 765 GWh in 2021. This represents a 10% increase compared to 2020. Of the energy used in 2021, 94% came from renewable sources, which constitutes a reduction of approximately 1 pp. compared to the previous year. Fuel consumption connected to the use of vehicles, aircraft, vessels and auxiliary power units was 83 895 m3 in 2021. This is a decrease by 10% compared to 2020. Fuel consumption on aircraft and vessels represents 90% of the total fuel consumption in the defence sector. The use of ammunition is reported and specified on a digital form (DBL-750) by organizational unit, shooting range and ammunition type. A total of 16,939,230 units of ammunition were reported used in 2021, which is 1% more than in 2020. The degree of reporting is the relationship between ammunition provided to the armed forces and the proportion reported being used. The degree of reporting in 2021 was 71% (excluding blank ammunition), which is a reduction of 3 pp. compared to 2020. The reported use of lead-based small arms ammunition has decreased with 798,000 units, or 54%, from 2020 to 2021. The estimated emission of lead is 3.5 tons in 2021 compared to 6.8 tons in 2020, a decrease of 48%. Water consumption is reported by NDEA based on measured and estimated volumes. The total water consumption in 2021 was 2.19 million m3, a reduction of approximately 2% compared to 2020. The use of chemicals is reported from establishments within the sector where chemicals are used on a regular basis, but is with the exception of de-icing fluids insufficiently reported. 37,055 kg of aircraft deicing, and 450,785 kg of runway deicing fluids were reported from the defence sector’s airbases in 2021. The relative usage of urea to the total usage of runway deicing fluids was 83% in 2021, an increase of 12 pp. compared to 2020. The greenhouse gas inventory consists of reported fuel and energy use and emission factors associated with the various materials. Emissions from the defence sector’s activities were estimated to 234,663 tons of CO2-equivalents in 2021 (scope 1 + 2). Emissions in scope 1 + 2 represents a reduction of 8.5% compared to 2021. The reduction is associated with reduced fuel usage on vessels and aircrafts. There is a close relation between the demands and prerequisites which dictate the sector’s volume and pattern of activity and its total impact on the environment. It is therefore relevant to assess this impact in light of the tasks assigned to the defence sector within a dynamic political framework.