Climate losses from two years of full-scale war in Ukraine have exceeded the annual greenhouse gas emissions of 175 countries. They have worsened the climate emergency, The Gurdian writes, citing a report by the Initiative for Greenhouse Gas Accounting in War (IGGAW).
At least 175 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) were caused by the Russian attack. This includes emissions from fighting, fires, forced migration, and fuel leaks.
175 million tonnes are carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), the most potent of all greenhouse gases. That's the equivalent of driving 90 million petrol cars for an entire year - and more than the total emissions generated by individual countries, including the Netherlands, Venezuela and Kuwait, in 2022.
According to the report:
- A third of war-related emissions come directly from military activities, with fuel used by Russian troops accounting for 35 million tonnes of CO2e - the largest source of greenhouse gases. Other sources include the production of high-carbon explosives, ammunition and fortifications along the frontline by both countries, as well as fuel used by allies to deliver military equipment.
- The other third is related to the huge amount of steel and concrete that will be needed to reconstruct damaged and destroyed schools, homes, bridges, factories and water plants. Some reconstruction has already taken place, and in some cases the replaced structures have been destroyed again.
- The last third has been caused by fires, rerouting of commercial aircraft, strikes on energy infrastructure and, to a lesser extent, the displacement of nearly 7 million Ukrainians and Russians.
Climate damage reached $32 billion in the first 24 months of the war.
"Russia is harming Ukraine, but also our climate. This 'conflict carbon' is significant and will be felt all over the world. Russia should be made to pay its debt to Ukraine and the countries of the global south, which will suffer the most from climate damage," said Lennard de Klerk, lead author of the IGGAW.
At the same time, the climate impacts of war and occupation are still poorly understood.
The Russian army has been committing ecocide and deliberately damaging the environment, and this damage is often irreparable.
- One such crime was the explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station in the summer of 2023.
- The enemy also attacks oil depots, which also causes environmental damage.
- As of October 2023, Russia has committed more than 2,500 environmental crimes in Ukraine