{"id":63518,"date":"2021-03-30T12:54:17","date_gmt":"2021-03-30T01:54:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/?p=63518"},"modified":"2021-03-31T12:30:16","modified_gmt":"2021-03-31T01:30:16","slug":"navies-must-reduce-their-carbon-emissions-in-the-face-of-climate-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/navies-must-reduce-their-carbon-emissions-in-the-face-of-climate-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Navies must reduce their carbon emissions in the face of climate change"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Royal New Zealand Navy recently launched its own journal<\/a>, which aims to build the service\u2019s professionalism and \u2018engage and exchange views with all those who have an interest in naval and maritime affairs\u2019.\u00a0The most eye-catching contribution in the inaugural edition is by the RNZN\u2019s chief naval architect, Chris Howard, with the provocative title \u2018Toward a zero carbon navy\u2019. It\u2019s a fascinating read.<\/p>\n

In November 2019, New Zealand\u2019s parliament passed the\u00a0Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act<\/a>.<\/em>\u00a0Net emissions of all greenhouse gases, except methane, are to be reduced to zero by 2050. The act requires all parts of society to examine their emissions levels and reduce them wherever possible and practicable.<\/p>\n

There aren\u2019t any net-zero-carbon navies. But the RNZN is the only navy paying into an emissions trading scheme. It pays New Zealand\u2019s treasury a capped price of NZ$25 per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent and receives a substantial rebate for fuel assessed as burned overseas on task. That\u2019s because those emissions are deemed\u00a0international\u00a0and so fall outside the scope of the national scheme.<\/p>\n

Howard argues that the RNZN should declare an intent to work towards becoming the world\u2019s first zero-carbon navy and seek operational and technological efficiencies in its fleet.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, Howard doesn\u2019t support\u00a0targets\u00a0for emissions reductions, noting that \u2018the security implications flowing from climate change are likely to increase the required operational tempo\u2019. Rather, he suggests that the RNZN support alternative green fuel technologies to reduce the carbon intensity of operations.<\/p>\n

Defence ship acquisition policies and maritime regulations should, Howard argues, be developed to encourage technological improvements. He suggests that the RNZN partner with others in the maritime domain, and with its sister services, which are also seeking to reduce their carbon footprints.<\/p>\n

While not sceptical, Howard is realistic about the difficulties of reducing the carbon footprints of navies: \u2018[F]or the next few decades, it seems probable that most naval ships worldwide will continue to rely on diesel fuel.\u2019 But he suggests that the RNZN could, for example, showcase a green-ship technological commitment by acquiring an all-electric vessel as a tender or future VIP barge.\u00a0(New Zealand\u2019s first all-electric passenger ferry is currently being constructed<\/a> locally.) Autonomous maritime vessels such as solar-powered wave gliders could also help monitor New Zealand\u2019s large offshore zone.<\/p>\n

Howard points out that New Zealand\u2019s future Southern Ocean patrol vessel\u00a0is expected to feature<\/a> clean and efficient design practices and support climate change science in Antarctica. He suggests that the vessel aim for part usage of methanol as fuel, noting that any spill would be almost non-toxic. New Zealand has one of the largest methanol production plants<\/a> in the world.<\/p>\n

Howard concludes, however, that\u00a0over the next few decades, the full net-zero-carbon goal can only be achieved by purchasing carbon offsets through the NZ emissions trading scheme to \u2018make up the deficit between the design and operational efficiencies that can be generated, and the Navy\u2019s total carbon footprint\u2019.\u00a0He also talks about \u2018blue\u2019 carbon sequestration<\/a>\u00a0in New Zealand\u2019s exclusive economic zone and\u00a0suggests that the RNZN use its international rebates under the scheme to invest in blue carbon research.<\/p>\n

Climate change is expected to result in an increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, which will affect the missions of navies. That\u2019s because navies play a key role in disaster relief operations, particularly when airports have been rendered unusable. Think of the Royal Australian Navy\u2019s role in bushfire relief<\/a> in 2019\u201320.<\/p>\n

Navies may be the most effective first responders in such circumstances, with their ability to bring in important capabilities, including medical amenities, command and communications facilities and heavy machinery. (Paradoxically, an increasing use of navies in climate disaster missions would, without a major technological breakthrough, increase carbon emissions.)<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not surprising, then, that navies have in many ways taken the lead in setting up cooperative arrangements for disaster responses in the Indo-Pacific.<\/p>\n

Reflecting the frequency of natural disasters, the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium<\/a>\u00a0has highlighted disaster response as a priority area for cooperation among regional navies, helping build confidence and trust among those who might otherwise see each other as adversaries.<\/p>\n

At sea, more cyclones and rough seas may affect mobility. Naval engagement in law enforcement will increase to deal with people flows as well as more illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and other changes to the marine environment caused by increased ocean acidification.<\/p>\n

Most naval infrastructure was built on the assumption of a stable climate with a predictable variability. But many naval facilities are built in low-lying areas<\/a> exposed to storm surges and sea-level rise.\u00a0Naval maintenance schedules could be disrupted if facilities are damaged by storms.<\/p>\n

Understanding the ocean environment is vital to naval operations. The data routinely collected by naval vessels, including submarines, can be used to monitor<\/a> the impact of climate change on ocean conditions.<\/p>\n

Climate change will alter the physical environment in which navies deploy. Naval planners\u00a0will need the best climate science to inform their plans.<\/p>\n

Navies can\u2019t prevent climate change and\u00a0it will be decades before they become carbon neutral, if they ever do. Many ships need steel, but steel production contributes significantly<\/a> to climate change.\u00a0Still, navies should prepare for climate change and lower their carbon emissions.<\/p>\n

In a memorandum<\/a> issued to all Department of Defense employees, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin states that to tackle the climate crisis the department will reduce its carbon footprint and \u2018seek to lead the way for alternative climate-considered approaches for the country\u2019.\u00a0As part of this effort, the department\u00a0is establishing a working group<\/a> on climate change.<\/p>\n

When it comes to the environment, the declared efforts by the RAN<\/a> don\u2019t mention climate change.\u00a0And we\u2019ve heard little about progress in the RAN\u2019s agreement with the US Navy<\/a> to explore the use of alternative fuels.<\/p>\n

Prime Minister Scott\u00a0Morrison has said<\/a> Australia should get to net-zero emissions \u2018as soon as possible\u2019 and preferably by 2050.<\/p>\n

The RAN should be a leading example in meeting, and possibly exceeding, requirements for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The challenge will be for the RAN to achieve this without curtailing its operations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Royal New Zealand Navy recently launched its own journal, which aims to build the service\u2019s professionalism and \u2018engage and exchange views with all those who have an interest in naval and maritime affairs\u2019.\u00a0The most …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":63521,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[283,533,73,114],"class_list":["post-63518","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","tag-climate-change","tag-navy","tag-new-zealand","tag-ran"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nNavies must reduce their carbon emissions in the face of climate change | The Strategist<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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