Excerpt: "Why War Is One Of The World’s Biggest Climate Threats" Forbes

"By Nils Rokke,

Contributor.

I write about the global energy transition and net-zero emissions.

Mar 26, 2025, 03:33am EDT"

 

"As war rages on in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and Congo, the world’s attention is understandably focused on human suffering and destruction. But a quieter, longer-lasting war is also being waged—one against nature, biodiversity, and the global climate.

War is among the most destructive forces on Earth, and not just for the people caught in its path.

While humanitarian impacts dominate headlines, the environmental costs are immense and largely ignored.

Armed conflicts unleash unprecedented levels of greenhouse gas emissions and pollution from the fossil-fueled tanks, jets, and warships to the vast industrial complexes that churn out ammunition, drones, and military vehicles. This is not to be ridiculed as we are talking about a strong driver for conflicts, global warming and biodiversity attrition.

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Every stage of war, from preparation and production to combat and eventual reconstruction, leaves an indelible carbon footprint on the planet.

The Climate Cost Of Military Action

Recent research has found that global militaries are responsible for nearly 5.5% of total global greenhouse gas emissions—a staggering figure that puts military emissions on par with the global cement industry. If it were a country, it would be the fourth biggest emitter in the world.

Military emissions are more than 2 times greater than those from global civil aviation. Although military spending accounts for about 2% of global GDP, its emissions intensity is roughly three times higher than the global economic average, making it one of the dirtiest and least regulated sectors in terms of climate impact.

Yet unlike most other major sectors, military emissions often remain invisible, exempt from many international reporting obligations and largely absent from climate negotiations.

The Cost Of The Ukraine Conflict

The ongoing war in Ukraine offers a stark example of how devastating the environmental impact of war can be.

According to a recent report from the Initiative on Greenhouse Gas Accounting of War, emissions attributable to the war in Ukraine have reached an estimated 230 million tons of CO₂ equivalent over the first three years—more than the combined annual emissions of all five Nordic countries.

These emissions stem from burning oil depots, exploded gas pipelines, and widespread damage to energy infrastructure. The destruction of electrical transformers and power stations releases specialized gases such as sulfur hexafluoride, or SF₆, a substance used for its insulating properties in high-voltage equipment...." ....Forbes