One year of conflict. Over 41,800 lives lost. 281,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emitted within the first 60 days. The war and genocide in Gaza is not just a humanitarian disaster: it is a climate catastrophe.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel’s attack on Gaza has displaced thousands of Palestinians, leaving them without essential resources such as food, water, and shelter. While the humanitarian impact is severe, the environmental consequences are equally alarming. This crisis not only highlights the intersection of human rights and climate issues but also contributes significantly to global carbon emissions.
Carbon emissions of war
Bombs, rockets, artillery, and supply chains involved in warfare have generated more emissions in a few months than the annual totals of 20 nations combined, according to a preliminary study published by the Social Science Research Network. The environmental damage extends beyond temporary spikes in emissions, its long-term impact on the planet is profound and potentially irreversible.
Decades of military occupation and conflict have degraded Gaza’s resources. The blockade and recurring violence have rendered 90-95% of the water undrinkable, and deforestation for buffer zones has worsened environmental degradation. Rebuilding Gaza could release 60 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Gaza, located in the Mediterranean Basin, is a climate-vulnerable region that faces rising temperatures. The area has already experienced a 1.5°C temperature increase, and projections suggest that by the end of the century, temperatures could rise by as much as 4°C.
Millions are left without aid, 100,000 tons of solid waste has overflowed across the city and diseases such as skin conditions, Hepatitis B and diarrhea are spreading rampantly.
However, one of the most concerning yet overlooked environmental factors has been Israel’s use of white phosphorus bombs.
The use of white phosphorus bombs — prohibited in dense, populated areas under international law — has further compounded the environmental crisis. White phosphorus contaminates soil and water, decimating ecosystems and posing severe health risks, including lethal internal burns.
The secret emissions of war
Military activities contribute approximately 5.5% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, yet these emissions remain unaccounted for in international climate negotiations. A report by Scientists for Global Responsibility and the Conflict and Environment Observatory highlights how military emissions, including those of Israel, are excluded from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) protocols.
This lack of transparency makes it difficult to hold nations accountable for the environmental impact of their armed forces.
A significant portion of Israel’s military operations relies on U.S. support. American cargo planes delivering military aid have emitted 133,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide — more than the annual emissions of Grenada. By early December, 200 American flights had transported 10,000 tonnes of military equipment to Israel, burning 50 million liters of aviation fuel in the process.
Since the war began, the U.S. has provided Israel with $17.9 billion in military aid, according to Brown University’s Costs of War project. However, this aid, which fuels ongoing genocide, also contributes to environmental destruction and worsens the climate crisis.
COP29 and military accountability
Conference of the Parties (COP) is an annual convention where members of the United Nations gather and discuss climate change and design a plan under the guidelines of the UNFCCC. Representatives for members, industry representatives and lobbyists attend to participate in global negotiations e.g. net-zero emissions.
The climate agenda was overshadowed by conflict at COP28 in Dubai, where discussions on war, security, and the climate crisis yielded little progress. Military emissions remained off the table, despite the growing acknowledgment of their environmental impact. Israel has used its participation in COP events to promote “green” initiatives while continuing to exploit Palestinian land and resources: a strategy critics label as greenwashing.
COP29, set to take place in Azerbaijan from November 11, 2024, will again raise the issue of fossil fuels and renewable energy. A key topic will be financing climate adaptation for developing countries, but there is still no consensus on how to secure the trillions of dollars required to match these efforts.
Azerbaijan, which aims to position itself as a peacemaker at the summit, plans to call for a global truce. However, its credibility is in question due to its poor human rights record and recent military action in Nagorno-Karabakh, which displaced over 100,000 people.
The call for solutions
A ceasefire in Gaza is essential to curbing further humanitarian and environmental damage. Although the U.S. has not formally called for a ceasefire, it has warned Israel that continued restrictions on humanitarian aid could result in cuts to American military funding within 30 days.
Here’s the catch — the specifics of these conditions remain unclear. It is uncertain what level of humanitarian access the U.S. considers sufficient or how it would enforce funding cuts if its demands are not met. In addition, the warning to Israel was sent the same week the U.S. chose to send Israel one of its most advanced air defense systems to fight against missile attacks from Iran.
Countries like The Netherlands, Spain, Canada, Belgium, and Italy have decided to suspend all arms sales and military support to Israel, however, the military emissions from ongoing attacks in Lebanon, Iran and Russia’s war on Ukraine is further pushing us away from reaching the goal to limit global warming to 1.5°C under the Paris Agreement.
The devastating effects mirror those of Hurricane Milton, with sea levels continuing to rise, the Gulf of Mexico experiencing record-breaking temperatures, and recent earthquakes in rural Australia underscoring how the war in Gaza will leave a lasting impact on future generations.
Military operations generate enormous emissions, and the environmental destruction caused by conflict worsens climate change. Without greater transparency and accountability for military emissions at global forums like COP, the world risks ignoring the hidden carbon cost of war. As nations gather for COP29, addressing the intersection of conflict and climate change must become a priority.
Humanitarian organisations like The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) need our support to provide relief for Palestinians, with Amnesty International and Greenpeace UK calling for an arms embargo that aligns with national and international law to hold Israel accountable for the actions and be required to reparate recovery in Gaza.
