Bronte Wells
War has a devastating impact on the environment, causing widespread pollution and damage that can last long after the conflict has ended. Armed conflicts and military activities produce extensive amounts of greenhouse gases, contributing to anthropogenic climate change, and leading to a range of environmental issues, from air and water pollution to deforestation and soil degradation. The use of explosives and chemical weapons releases toxic substances such as lead, mercury, and depleted uranium, which can contaminate soil, water, and the food chain, posing risks to both human and wildlife health. Wars also disrupt civil infrastructure, leading to the contamination of water sources and the loss of access to clean drinking water for millions. Additionally, the destruction of forests and farmland results in habitat loss and decreased biodiversity, with long-lasting effects on ecosystems. The environmental consequences of war are far-reaching and often persist long after the conflict has ended, underscoring the urgent need to address these issues in peacebuilding efforts.
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What You'll Learn
Military operations and vehicles
Military vehicles such as warships, fighter planes, and tanks are major consumers of fossil fuels, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Wars and conflicts also lead to increased fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. For example, the first three years of Russia's invasion of Ukraine generated 230 MtCO2e, equivalent to the annual emissions of Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia combined.
Military operations can also cause widespread physical damage to landscapes and ecosystems. Large-scale vehicle movements and the use of explosive ordnance can result in soil degradation and pollution, particularly when explosive weapons are used in urban areas, creating vast amounts of debris and rubble. Noise pollution from military aircraft can also negatively impact nearby communities and wildlife.
In addition to the direct impacts of military vehicles and operations, the military sector's logistical supply chains and infrastructure contribute to pollution. The military's extensive global network of trucks, cargo planes, and container ships used for humanitarian aid, weapons, and fuel contribute to emissions and pollution. The production and use of weapons and military materiel during conflicts can also leave environmental legacies, with landmines, cluster munitions, and other explosive remnants polluting soils and water sources with metals and toxic materials.
While there are initiatives to reduce military carbon emissions, such as improving energy efficiency and the use of renewable sources, the military's impact on the environment is significant and often excluded from emissions targets and agreements.
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Oil fields and refineries
In Rojava, Syria, oil pollution has devastated the region, leading to toxic air, cancer, and barren land. During the Syrian Civil War, Assad and various militant groups financed their operations through the region's oil fields and refineries, neglecting safe and environmentally sound extraction practices. These refineries became frequent targets of airstrikes by opposing forces, and many were deemed too toxic to continue operating after the conflict. The outdated infrastructure in the region also poses a challenge to ecological goals, and sanctions on Syria have limited economic activity, making crude oil refinement using ageing machinery necessary despite the risks.
The Oudah oil refinery in northeastern Syria was repeatedly bombed by Turkish forces in December 2023, with journalists finding the site in ruins after it was destroyed by a missile in January 2024. The attack caused approximately 35,000 barrels of oil to spill into the surrounding fields, rendering the land unable to support crops.
The burning of oil refineries has also been observed in Ukraine, contributing to the immense climate impact of Russia's invasion. The first three years of the war generated 230 MtCO2e, equivalent to the annual emissions of Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia combined. This conflict has seen the first attempt to comprehensively document the emissions from any conflict, with researchers developing methodologies to calculate the environmental impact.
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Soil and water pollution
War and military activities have a significant impact on the environment, contributing to pollution, resource depletion, and climate change. Soil and water pollution are among the most severe consequences of warfare, causing long-term damage to ecosystems and human health.
Soil pollution from war can occur in various ways. Firstly, the use of explosive weapons and ordnance in urban and industrial areas generates vast amounts of debris and rubble, leading to air and soil pollution. The release of toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and radioactive elements during conflicts further contaminates the soil. For example, Strontium-90, a radioactive isotope from nuclear fallout, can accumulate in the soil and be absorbed by plants, eventually entering the food chain and posing significant health risks to humans and ecosystems. Additionally, the destruction of industrial and commercial infrastructure can result in the spillage of hazardous substances, such as oil and chemicals, which can penetrate and poison the soil, rendering it unfit for agriculture.
The impact of warfare on water pollution is equally concerning. Water sources can become contaminated due to the release of toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and radioactive materials used in weapons and military equipment. This contamination can affect both groundwater and surface water bodies, including rivers and the sea. For instance, during the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, water pollution occurred due to the discharge of 130,000 cubic meters of sewage into the sea as a result of fuel supply disruptions. Furthermore, the destruction of civil infrastructure during wars can leave millions without access to clean drinking water, exacerbating water shortages and deteriorating sanitary conditions.
The pollution of soil and water resources during wartime has long-lasting repercussions. Remediation of contaminated soil can be extremely challenging and costly, sometimes requiring complete removal and replacement. The presence of military forces and their activities, such as the use of burn pits, can also extend well beyond the conflict phase, continuing to expose communities to hazardous pollution and causing ongoing health issues.
The environmental impact of warfare is undeniable, and the pollution of soil and water resources is a critical aspect of this damage. The long-term consequences for ecosystems, human health, and food security underscore the urgency of addressing and mitigating the pollution caused by war.
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Climate change acceleration
War is among the most destructive forces on Earth, and its impacts are felt not only by those caught in the crossfire but also by the natural environment. Armed conflicts unleash unprecedented levels of greenhouse gas emissions and pollution from fossil-fueled military equipment, industrial complexes, and the vast land requirements of military activities. The world's militaries are estimated to account for around 5.5% to 6% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with some arguing that this figure could be an underestimate due to the secretive nature of militaries and the voluntary nature of emissions reporting.
The impact of war on climate change is multifaceted and can be observed through eight key mechanisms: military vehicle emissions, asset destruction, diverted funds, diverted media coverage, shifted trade relationships, increased self-sufficiency, reduced technology transfer, and reduced cooperation. For example, the first 60 days of the war in Gaza were estimated to have emitted 281,000 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The conflict in Ukraine has resulted in attacks on facilities that process dangerous chemicals, threatening nearby communities and contaminating water sources and airways. Warfare in urban areas, such as Ukraine, causes extensive damage to buildings, roads, and infrastructure, filling the air with debris and making it harder to breathe.
Military activities also have long-lasting impacts on the environment, with solvents, fuels, and toxic chemicals leaching into the soil and water, remaining for decades or even centuries. Soil erosion and desertification linked to warfare have been observed in Syria, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan, reducing the soil's potential to act as a carbon sink. Wars can also influence emissions from the marine environment, as seen with oil spills impacting coastal ecosystems and increased wastewater discharge due to urban damage. The collapse of environmental governance during conflicts further encourages practices that increase emissions and lock in polluting technologies.
The connection between war and climate change creates a "Doom Loop," where conflict raises carbon emissions, and climate change, in turn, increases the vulnerability of regions to violence and instability. As regions experience more droughts, floods, and extreme weather events intensified by climate change, competition for scarce water, food, and land resources can lead to violent clashes. This vicious cycle highlights the urgent need to address the root causes of conflicts and pursue peace, while also phasing out fossil fuels and prioritizing the well-being of people over violence.
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Environmental damage and health risks
Wars and geopolitical tensions harm climate action, including by preventing the just distribution of needed resources. Military activities produce extensive amounts of greenhouse gases, pollution, and cause resource depletion, among other environmental impacts. The progression of warfare from chemical weapons to nuclear weapons has increasingly created stress on ecosystems and the environment. Wars create energy shortages and a rise in fossil fuel prices, which further disrupts global climate action.
The American Revolution inflicted major impacts on the 18th-century natural world. During World War II, aircraft were used to transport resources and drop bombs, damaging habitats and causing noise pollution. Similarly, the war in Ukraine has had a devastating environmental toll, from chemical contamination of waterways to air pollution and deforestation. The destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam in June 2023 caused massive flooding downstream, which carried organic waste, hundreds of tons of oil, landmines, and unexploded ordnance into the Dnipro River Delta and the Black Sea. About 30% of Ukraine's protected areas have been negatively impacted by the war, due to shelling, digging trenches, and other destructive activities.
The use of explosive weapons in urban areas creates environmental risks, including large quantities of debris and rubble, which can cause air and soil pollution. Large-scale vehicle movements can lead to widespread physical damage to sensitive landscapes and geodiversity, as can the intensive use of explosive ordnance. The burning of oil refineries and the use of diesel-hungry military vehicles in the Russia-Ukraine war have also contributed to emissions.
The military sector is responsible for around 5.5% of global GHG emissions, which are often omitted from GHG assessments on the global and country levels. The US Defense Department is the world's largest fossil fuel user and ranks first in greenhouse gas emissions with 3.7 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions from 1975 to 2018. US military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Syria resulted in a total of 440 million tons of carbon emissions, including 250 million tons emitted during the invasion of Iraq. The carbon emission cost of the Russia-Ukraine war in its first seven months is calculated to be at least 100 million tons. Israel's attacks on Gaza have also been described as an "environmental massacre", with the first 120 days of the war emitting 420,000 to 652,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Military pollution is a worldwide occurrence, with armed forces responsible for emitting two-thirds of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that were banned in the 1987 Montreal Protocol for damaging the ozone layer. Naval accidents during the Cold War have dropped at least 50 nuclear warheads and 11 nuclear reactors into the ocean, which remain on the ocean floor.
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Frequently asked questions
It is difficult to estimate the amount of pollution caused by wars due to limited data and the absence of a standard framework for reporting conflict-related emissions. However, it is evident that wars significantly contribute to pollution and have a detrimental impact on the environment.
Wars result in increased carbon emissions from military vehicles, aircraft, and the burning of fossil fuels. Additionally, the destruction of oil fields and refineries releases large amounts of carbon dioxide, sulphur, mercury, and dioxins into the atmosphere.
Wars cause habitat destruction, deforestation, and soil degradation. The use of explosives and ordnance creates vast amounts of debris and rubble, leading to air and soil pollution. Wars also disrupt global climate action and energy security, creating a "Doom Loop" where climate change intensifies conflicts.
Yes, there is a growing recognition of the interconnectedness between war and the climate crisis. Organizations like the Conflict and Environment Observatory are dedicated to studying the environmental dimensions of armed conflicts. Researchers and scientists are advocating for more transparent and stringent reporting of military emissions to the UN.
The environmental impacts of war threaten human health and livelihoods. Pollution from burning oil wells can have toxic effects on nearby communities. Wars also lead to the destruction of agricultural infrastructure, threatening food security. The post-conflict presence of landmines and explosives restricts access to agricultural land and pollutes soil and water sources.
