A new study reveals that the carbon footprint of the first 15 months of Israel’s war on Gaza will surpass the annual greenhouse gas emissions of a hundred countries, exacerbating the global climate crisis and causing massive civilian casualties. The research, which was shared exclusively with The Guardian, found that the long-term climate cost of destroying, clearing, and rebuilding Gaza could top 31 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). This is more than the combined 2023 annual greenhouse gases emitted by Costa Rica and Estonia, yet there is no obligation for states to report military emissions to the UN climate body.
Israel’s relentless bombardment and refusal to adhere to international court rulings have underscored the asymmetry between each side’s war capabilities. Meanwhile, Hamas’ bunker fuel and rockets only account for a small fraction of the emissions. The study also found that 50% of the greenhouse gases were generated by the supply and use of weapons, tanks, and other ordnance by the Israeli military.
Burning fossil fuels is causing climate chaos, leading to extreme weather events and environmental degradation. The Gulf region, in particular, is vulnerable to extreme weather, slow-onset climate disasters, and water shortages. The research is part of a growing movement to hold states and businesses accountable for the climate and environmental costs of war and occupation.
The researchers estimate that the long-term climate cost of Israel’s military destruction in Gaza and recent conflicts with Yemen, Iran, and Lebanon is equivalent to charging 2.6 billion smartphones or running 84 gas power plants for a year. This figure includes the estimated 557,359 tCO2e arising from the occupation-era construction of Hamas’ tunnel network and Israel’s “iron wall” barrier.
The killing and environmental destruction in Gaza resumed when Israel unilaterally violated the ceasefire, but the findings could help calculate claims for reparations. Militaries need to reckon with the fact that their own national security and operational capacity are compromised due to a changing climate of their own making.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/30/carbon-footprint-of-israels-war-on-gaza-exceeds-that-of-many-entire-countries
