The environmental cost of fighting wars is enormous. In addition the impact of militarisation starts long before the wars themselves do. CEOBS shows that building and sustaining military forces consumes vast quantities of resources, for example in training. Also military vehicles, planes, ships, buildings and infrastructure all require energy, usually oil.
It is interesting, before we examine the effects of war, to look at the reverse situation first. In other words can Climate Change and the environmental damage it creates cause wars or internal violence?
Climate Change and the Likelihood of Wars or Regional Violence
We have known for some time now that a changeable and unpredictable climate affects the security and stability of individual states. This can make wars and on-going violence more likely. Till recently, Climate Change has, for example, in the Middle East been seen as an amplifier of conflicts. In other words the effects of Climate Change have made any wars or violence more probable but is not the basic cause. Nevertheless this may now change as the Middle East is warming faster than the rest of the world and this increased heat and its biproducts may become the primary source of conflict.
A report by UNDP on Climate Security says “ In settings where conflict already exists, the impacts of climate change can aggravate or prolong it, making it more difficult to reach and sustain peace.” The report shows that “in 2022 across the Horn of Africa 20.9 million people were left highly food insecure due to the longest and most severe drought in recent history.” The area was already suffering from serious and on-going conflict. Conflicts between communities were made worse over competition for resources such as food and water.
War and its Effect on Climate Change
Post Found on Facebook (Samsul Huda Patgiri)
While this Facebook post describes the situation very well, individual countries have not yet come to terms with that. Nations are not required to announce their military emissions under the terms of the United Nations Paris Agreement according to the Scientific American. Nevertheless the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere is horrendous and the article suggests that emissions now need to be accounted for in each country’s climate targets. Environmental organisations and scientists have been pushing hard for this.
Structural Damage Also Needs Rebuilt
The destruction of infrastructure such as buildings and homes creates large amounts of carbon emissions. Similarly the reconstruction phase and production of the required concrete and steel is incredibly bad for the environment. This destruction also leaves countries with massive amounts of waste that is difficult to recycle.
Fossil Fuels
The military uses vast amounts of fossil fuels which contribute significantly to Global Warming. It is believed that they are responsible for about 5.5% of global Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
According to Caritas “ The global military carbon footprint is the fourth highest, ranking behind the US, China and India. If the US military alone were counted as a separate country, it would be among the biggest polluters of our planet.”
Fires and smoke from bombing can also contribute significantly to emissions.
War in Gaza
Environmental Damage
A report by the UN says that “warfare affects the delicate balance of Nature in many ways.” Natural resources such as water, critical ecosystems, forests, fertile lands can all be seriously damaged or polluted. When oil fields were set ablaze in Kuwait in 1991 it set off an unprecedented disaster (about 700 oil wells were set alight) causing pollution in the desert and respiratory diseases in humans over a very wide area.
Destruction of Wildlife
Warfare has had a devastating effect on wildlife globally. Apart from the distress and pain caused, many of these animals are important parts of local ecosystems. It is also the case that many animals are abandoned and left to starve when different regions are bombed or attacked.
Is there anything at all we can do as individuals?
Right now there seem to be endless wars and local violence. It appears that our reaction to problems between people or groups has become “fight first and talk afterwards”. Clearly this doesn’t work. Not only does it create hate and resentment but at the same time it is playing havoc with our environment. The whole situation makes me want to scream at our stupidity, and yet I struggle with what on earth I should be doing.
It is difficult as individuals to feel that we can do anything at all to make a difference here. There are many anti-war groups to be found on the Internet which you may find useful. There are also faith groups that work against war and militarism. You can also find their details on the Internet. The Quakers, for example, have been very active in their anti-war work. There are a number of groups that help victims of war but do not work to prevent war itself.
There are also protest groups that fight against the production and sale of arms, for example, The Campaign Against the Arms Trade and Amnesty International. Or groups that protests against the injustice of war, for example the Palestinian Solidarity Group.
Sometimes joining a group can help you feel more productive. And writing to the press and to your government at least gets your voice heard.
Beyond that, we can change our attitude and our values, and practice being different in our reactions to other people and other countries.
I found a quotation on social media which for me sums that up very nicely how we need to change our values.
“What do we celebrate and at what cost?
We must stop domination and start valuing life. If history shows us anything, is that bloodshed in the name of conquest leaves only grief and ruin. Our shared responsibility is to break the cycle, with solidarity, care and refusal to follow those who demand we dehumanize others for flags and borders. We change the future by choosing to honour life instead of dominating it. Let’s build that together.” Larry Scrima (Facebook)
If anybody has any other ideas I would love to hear them. Thank you.
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Photos by UX Gun, Emad El Byed and Mohammed Ibrahim on Unsplash