The war in Gaza will be devastating even when it ends
The carbon footprint of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza in the first 15 months of the conflict exceeds the annual emissions of more than a hundred countries, revealed a recent study conducted by a group of scientists from the United Kingdom and the USA, writes British Guardian. The survey estimates that a total carbon footprint of the war, including all military operations and the intended enlava reconstruction, will exceed 31 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. This is more than the common emissions of Costa Rica and Estonia in 2023.
Hamas is to blame for less than half a percent so far, and the Israeli army has generated more than 50 percent of all emissions resulting from the war in Gaza through the process of supply and use of military vehicles and weapons alone.
Researchers wrote that the war will cause about as many emissions as a one -year charging of nearly three billion mobile phones or a one -year operation of 84 gas power plants.
Through the process of supply and use of military vehicles and weapons, the Israeli army generated more than 50 percent of all emissions resulting from the war in Gaza. Photo: Amir Cohen/Reuters
More than 40 percent of all emissions have generated about 70,000 trucks provided by Gazi urgent assistance. The United Nations, however, warns that there is not enough help. In doing so, the war caused pollution of air, water and soil. The groundwater is in some places completely useless as it is contaminated with poisons and charges.
In addition to the emissions already and will be created by military operations and the use of equipment, the consequences of gauze recovery will cause another environmental damage. More than 400,000 demolished apartments, 700 schools and hospitals and other buildings and destroyed roads need to be renovated. All in all, according to the report, 29 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent are expected to apply – the same amount of emissions was created throughout 2023 by Afghanistan.
Israel raised its military budget to 43 billion euros in 2024. More and last year’s maintenance of Israeli military infrastructure and vehicles generated more emissions than the entire eritration, as much as 6.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. Nevertheless, the United Nations Organization does not require countries to reports on the emissions generated by the military, and Israel is one of the many countries that have never submitted the reports.
The war between Israel and Hamas is thus not only a humanitarian and political crisis, but also an environmental disaster with long -term consequences for climate and life in the region. Scientists and environmental activists have therefore been calling for more responsibility and transparency regarding military emissions for a long time. In Gaza, almost 54,250 people have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of the Israeli offensive.
