Environmental reporting and greenhouse gas inventory of the Norwegian defence sector for 2024
FFI-Report
2025
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The reports in the series “Environmental reporting in the Norwegian defence sector” are published annually by the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI). These 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, consumption of chemicals and acute pollution. Greenhouse gas emissions are presented in a greenhouse gas inventory.
Waste generation is reported to the 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 2024 was 16 961 tons, which represents a 9 % increase compared to 2023. The degree of waste sorting was 65,1 %, an increase of 1,9 percentage points compared to the previous year. 33.3 % of the waste was recycled, while 59.8 % was processed with energy recovery.
Energy consumption associated with the defence sector’s buildings and properties in Norway is reported by the NDEA through statistics from suppliers. The total energy consumption in buildings and other properties is estimated to 702.9 GWh in 2024. This represents a 7.3 % decrease compared to 2023. Of the energy used in 2024, 94 % came from renewable sources, which is about the same as the previous year.
Fuel consumption connected to the use of vehicles, aircraft, vessels and auxiliary power units was 97 708 m3 in 2024. This is an increase by approximately 7.8 % compared to 2023. Fuel consumption on aircraft and vessels represents 91.6 % 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 20 499 627 units of ammunition were reported used in 2024, which is 18% more than in 2023. 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 2024 was 85 % (excluding blank ammunition), which is an increase of 11 percentage point compared to 2023. The reported use of lead-based small arms ammunition has increased with 368 000 units, or 38 %, from 2023 to 2024. The estimated emission of lead is 6.1 tons in 2024, compared to 4.5 tons in 2023, an increase of 36 %.
Water consumption is reported by the NDEA based on measured and estimated volumes. The total water consumption in 2024 was 2.17 million m3, a reduction of 5 % compared to 2023.
The use of chemicals is reported from establishments within the sector where chemicals are used on a regular basis. However, with the exception of de-icing fluids, it is insufficiently reported. 23 727 kg of aircraft deicing, and 423 600 kg of runway deicing fluids were reported in 2024. The relative usage of urea to the total usage of runway deicing fluids was 62 % in 2024, a decrease of 18 percentage points compared to 2023.
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 259 816 tons of CO2-equivalents in 2024 (scope 1 and 2), and 1 441 932 tons of CO2-equivalents when including indirect emissions not mandatory to reporting (scope 3). Emissions in scope 1 and 2 have increased by 6 % compared to 2023. 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.
Waste generation is reported to the 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 2024 was 16 961 tons, which represents a 9 % increase compared to 2023. The degree of waste sorting was 65,1 %, an increase of 1,9 percentage points compared to the previous year. 33.3 % of the waste was recycled, while 59.8 % was processed with energy recovery.
Energy consumption associated with the defence sector’s buildings and properties in Norway is reported by the NDEA through statistics from suppliers. The total energy consumption in buildings and other properties is estimated to 702.9 GWh in 2024. This represents a 7.3 % decrease compared to 2023. Of the energy used in 2024, 94 % came from renewable sources, which is about the same as the previous year.
Fuel consumption connected to the use of vehicles, aircraft, vessels and auxiliary power units was 97 708 m3 in 2024. This is an increase by approximately 7.8 % compared to 2023. Fuel consumption on aircraft and vessels represents 91.6 % 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 20 499 627 units of ammunition were reported used in 2024, which is 18% more than in 2023. 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 2024 was 85 % (excluding blank ammunition), which is an increase of 11 percentage point compared to 2023. The reported use of lead-based small arms ammunition has increased with 368 000 units, or 38 %, from 2023 to 2024. The estimated emission of lead is 6.1 tons in 2024, compared to 4.5 tons in 2023, an increase of 36 %.
Water consumption is reported by the NDEA based on measured and estimated volumes. The total water consumption in 2024 was 2.17 million m3, a reduction of 5 % compared to 2023.
The use of chemicals is reported from establishments within the sector where chemicals are used on a regular basis. However, with the exception of de-icing fluids, it is insufficiently reported. 23 727 kg of aircraft deicing, and 423 600 kg of runway deicing fluids were reported in 2024. The relative usage of urea to the total usage of runway deicing fluids was 62 % in 2024, a decrease of 18 percentage points compared to 2023.
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 259 816 tons of CO2-equivalents in 2024 (scope 1 and 2), and 1 441 932 tons of CO2-equivalents when including indirect emissions not mandatory to reporting (scope 3). Emissions in scope 1 and 2 have increased by 6 % compared to 2023. 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.
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