War’s Climate Toll: Two Weeks of Conflict Emit More Carbon

War’s A Shocking Carbon Footprint in Just 14 Days

According to a recent assessment by climate researchers, the initial 14 days of the conflict have resulted in the emission of over 5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. This, it has been claimed, is equivalent to the annual emissions of the world’s 84 lowest emitting nations. This has surprised many people in the field of environmental studies.

The emissions resulting from the war have surprised many people due to the quick disappearance of years of work to combat greenhouse emissions. “Every missile strike is another down payment on a hotter, more unstable planet.”

What’s Driving the Emissions Surge

However, the majority of them did not come from one place but rather all the destructive activities that occurred during the war.

One of the largest contributors has been the destruction of buildings. Tens of thousands of civilian buildings that were destroyed during the war have released massive amounts of carbon into the atmosphere.

Another contributor has been the massive fuel consumption that occurred during the war. Warplanes, vessels, and ground vehicles have consumed millions of liters of fuel in sustained operations.

Another contributor has been the attacks on energy infrastructure. Bombing of fuel depots and oil storage facilities has resulted in massive fires that have released massive amounts of carbon into the air.

“Every refinery fire and tanker strike is a reminder that fossil-fuel geopolitics is incompatible with a livable planet,” said a climate expert.

Burning Oil and Infrastructure Destruction

Some of the most striking scenes to have come out of the conflict have been the large plumes of black smoke rising out of cities as a result of attacks on fuel storage centers. Millions of barrels of oil have been estimated to have been used as a result of the conflict, and this has also formed part of the overall number of emissions.

However, the destruction of infrastructure such as homes, roads, and buildings has also resulted in what is known as “embodied emissions,” which are the emissions produced by the destruction of materials such as concrete and steel.

Military Hardware and Weapons Add to the Toll

Apart from fuel and fire, the extensive use of advanced weaponry has also had its own role to play.

The level of destruction of military equipment like planes, ships, and missile technology has given rise to yet another dimension of the level of greenhouse gases emitted.

The extensive use of weaponry like missiles, drones, and interceptors has given rise to yet another dimension of the level of environmental damage.

Though this might be minor in comparison to other factors, it is also a cumulative effect.

A Blow to Global Climate Goals

The emissions released in just two weeks of conflict indicate a worrisome step backward in global climate change mitigation.

Scientists believe that the world’s total remaining carbon budget is finite if it is to stay within the 1.5°C increase in global temperatures. Large increases in emissions, such as those brought by war, can hasten the exhaustion of this total remaining carbon budget.

“We all need to live with the climate after-effects,” said one of the study’s authors. “Burning up this amount of emissions in two weeks is something we simply cannot afford.”

The study illustrates an important point: even as climate change is considered in terms of industry and transportation, war’s effect on the environment is still largely ignored in global climate agreements.

How It Compares to National Emissions

To understand the amount of emissions, experts compare it to the amount of emissions from a country.

To understand this, let’s take the example of Iran, which, as a country, emits hundreds of millions of tonnes of CO2 every year. The estimates of the amount of CO2 Iran emits every year are 779 million tonnes of CO2.

But there are many other countries that emit only a fraction of that amount every year. The amount of emissions from dozens of those countries is roughly equivalent to the amount of emissions from this war in 14 days.

This has led to the emergence of the argument that the world needs to accept war as a major contributor to climate change.

The Hidden Cost of Modern Warfare

Environmental experts say that this study shows one aspect of the effects of war that has not been given sufficient attention.

Unlike industrial emissions that are monitored and regulated, there is no monitoring of the effects of war on the environment in any international agreement on climate change.

“This war has highlighted the ‘blind spot’ in the world’s current approach to international climate policy.

“This war has highlighted the ‘blind spot’ in the world’s current approach to international climate policy.

“This war shows how quickly emissions can spike when fossil fuel infrastructure becomes a target. It’s a reminder that climate and security are deeply connected.”

Calls for Accountability and Reform

In reaction to this, environmental organizations have called for greater accountability and transparency regarding the effects of climate change resulting from wars.

Some experts have suggested that the effects of wars should be included in reporting climate change at the global level, while others have called upon the government to consider the effects of wars on the environment at the planning stage.

“You cannot separate climate policy from foreign policy anymore,” said the advocate. “They are part of the same global system.”

There is also a call for greater protection to be accorded to energy infrastructure, which, when destroyed, results in humanitarian and environmental disasters.

A Warning for the Future

As the war continues, experts are also predicting an increase in these emissions.

The first two weeks may only be a small percentage of what the environmental costs may turn out to be if the war continues.

The message, it seems, is very clear for the experts. “The hidden costs of modern warfare are not just the human toll and the geopolitical consequences. They are also the environmental consequences.”

The problem, experts say, “is whether people are going to start taking these hidden costs seriously, or if they are going to continue to ignore them as the world hurtles towards climate change tipping points.”

By William Hernandez

Journalist for Vlixx Magazine, reporting on news from around the world, ensuring timely, accurate, and detailed information to keep the public informed and educated.

Sources:

Truthout: 2 Weeks of Iran War Released More Carbon Emissions Than 84 Countries Do Yearly

The Guardian: 5m tonnes of CO2 emitted in just 14 days of US war on Iran, analysis finds

Featured and Inset Image Courtesy of Ben Heine Flickr Page – Creative Commons License

Inset Image Courtesy of Arden Andersen Flickr Page- Creative Commons License