🌍 Conflict in the Skies, Carbon on the Ground
A staggering 35,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) were released into the atmosphere during the first five days of the Iran-Israel conflict, researchers have revealed. The emissions—comparable to those from 8,300 cars driven for a year—underscore the hidden environmental toll of modern warfare.
This alarming estimate comes from Dr. Benjamin Neimark (Queen Mary University of London) and Dr. Frederick Otu-Larbi (University of Energy and Natural Resources, Ghana), who applied their prior methodology used in the Gaza conflict.
“The emissions from missiles, rockets, and jet fuel during just the early stages of the war mirror the impact of burning 20,000 tonnes of coal,” the researchers explained.
💣 Military Emissions: The Hidden Climate Culprit
Despite being major global polluters, military activities remain under-reported in climate data. Since the Paris Agreement, reporting military emissions under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has been voluntary—leaving gaping holes in accountability.
At COP26 in Glasgow, a coalition was formed to track this “military emissions gap.” But according to the researchers, most nations still fail to submit data, leaving independent experts to fill the void.
“Wars—from Gaza to Ukraine to the Iran-Israel standoff—are not just humanitarian crises. They are climate crises too,” they said.
📉 The Broader Climate Cost of Conflict
The total global military carbon footprint is estimated at 5.5% of greenhouse gas emissions—roughly 2,750 MtCO₂e—placing it alongside civilian aviation (2%) and global shipping (3%).
However, this figure excludes many indirect impacts of war:
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🔥 Fires from infrastructure damage
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🌳 Destruction of forests and green zones
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🏥 War-related healthcare emissions
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🧱 Emissions from post-conflict reconstruction
These “invisible” emissions are rarely factored into climate targets but have significant, lasting environmental consequences.
🧩 Missing Data, Misguided Priorities
During COP29, a proposal for a $1 trillion climate finance target was rejected in favor of a $300 billion cap—despite the world spending $2.5 trillion annually on military defense.
As Panama’s delegate pointed out:
“Spending $2.5 trillion to kill each other is acceptable, but spending $1 trillion to save lives is seen as excessive.”
Meanwhile, some leaders like UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer have defended cutting aid budgets to fund defense, a trend mirrored by others across Europe.
🛡️ What’s the Way Forward?
To reduce the environmental harm of military operations, researchers and advocates from CEOBS (Conflict and Environment Observatory) recommend:
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Mandatory emissions reporting by all armed forces
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Creation of new emissions categories that reflect the unique carbon footprint of warfare
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Integration of sustainability in military modernization, prioritizing non-fossil fuel technologies
“We cannot reduce what we do not measure,” the report stresses.
“If militaries want to be part of climate solutions, they must first acknowledge their role in the problem.”
Source: https://www.myjoyonline.com/
