Tom Slater Tom Slater

Do we really need an eco-friendly army?

(Photo: Getty)

The triumph of green ideology within our institutions, corporations and public life is staggering. Notions that would have once been confined to meetings in the back of a Brighton bookshop are now the common coin of government, big business and, of course, the cultural elites. All of them now seem to agree that cheap and plentiful energy is bad, that the Industrial Revolution was our original sin, and that eco-austerity is what our ailing nation needs.

But the eco-takeover of Britain’s armed forces is particularly odd. In 2021, the Ministry of Defence published its ‘Climate Change and Sustainability Strategic Approach’, laying out its plans to help the government hit net zero by 2050. The Royal Air Force wants to hit net zero by 2040, though it has so far failed to explain how. And now we hear that the Royal Navy is sending sailors on courses about climate change.

The Telegraph reports that the navy is even considering forcing personnel to attend these online lessons, which offer a ‘comprehensive overview on the science behind climate change and most importantly its relevance to defence’, according to a leaked briefing paper.

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in