Environmental Impact of Ukraine Conflict Goes Beyond Borders
CISR
This headline is brought to you by the Center for International Stabilization and Recovery (CISR) which works to support resilience and recovery in global communities affected by war and conflict.
(phys.org) An international team of scientists studied the environmental impact of the conflict in Ukraine over the first 18 months, emphasizing military emissions. The research, published in the Science of the Total Environment, reveals limitations in the UNFCCC's emission reporting framework. Armed conflicts not only cause social and political turmoil but also lead to significant environmental degradation.
The study highlights challenges in accounting for greenhouse gas emissions from military activities, stressing the inadequacy of current international frameworks. The researchers estimate unreported emissions from the conflict surpassed annual emissions of European countries like Austria, Hungary, and Portugal. The findings underscore the need to address environmental consequences in global conflict scenarios, challenging assumptions in the net-zero transition.