It’s incredibly dystopian that the ongoing genocide of Palestinians hasn’t motivated every single human to call for a permanent end to Israel’s atrocities, but maybe this reminder about the climate consequences of war will push a few more people to join the chorus calling for a ceasefire.

Image by hosny salah from Pixabay NOTE: this photo uploaded in August 2023

Today The Guardian published an article written by Nina Lakhani: “Emissions from Israel’s war in Gaza have ‘immense’ effect on climate catastrophe.” The article begins with this: The planet-warming emissions generated during the first two months of the war in Gaza were greater than the annual carbon footprint of more than 20 of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations, new research reveals. (Note: emphasis mine).

The article goes on to say: According to the study, which is based on only a handful of carbon-intensive activities and is therefore probably a significant underestimate, the climate cost of the first 60 days of Israel’s military response was equivalent to burning at least 150,000 tonnes of coal. (Note: emphasis mine)

The analysis, which is yet to be peer reviewed, includes CO₂ from aircraft missions, tanks and fuel from other vehicles, as well as emissions generated by making and exploding the bombs, artillery and rockets. It does not include other planet-warming gases such as methane. Almost half the total CO₂ emissions were down to US cargo planes flying military supplies to Israel. (Note: emphasis mine)

In case you’re wondering, Hamas rockets in those same two months generated the equivalence of 713 tons of CO₂ (300 tons of coal). The U.S.’s role, on the other hand? “By 4 December, at least 200 American cargo flights were reported to have delivered 10,000 tonnes of military equipment to Israel. The study found that the flights guzzled around 50m litres of aviation fuel, spewing an estimated 133,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere – more than the entire island of Grenada last year.”

I’m tempted to highlight every paragraph from this vital story, but will stop with this: David Boyd, the UN special rapporteur for human rights and the environment, said: “This research helps us understand the immense magnitude of military emissions – from preparing for war, carrying out war and rebuilding after war. Armed conflict pushes humanity even closer to the precipice of climate catastrophe, and is an idiotic way to spend our shrinking carbon budget.” (Note: emphasis mine)

An idiotic way to spend our shrinking carbon budget, indeed. Please read this important story that highlights what we all know to be true: wars and aggression enrich the military industrial complex at the expense of people and planet.

Anything war can do, peace can do better!