Nature and the environment suffered significantly from the effects of the war. According to Ukraine, the war has caused more than 30 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
Russia’s attack on Ukraine has caused enormous damage to the atmosphere and environment, and Russia must take responsibility for these emissions, Ukraine demanded at the UN COP27 climate meeting in Egypt.
In its speeches, Ukraine has repeatedly brought up the disasters caused by Russia for the people, infrastructure and environment of Ukraine.
According to Ukraine, a fifth of the country’s protected areas have been destroyed as a result of the war. In addition, according to Ukraine, soil pollution has caused damages of 11.4 billion euros, it says The Guardian (you are switching to another service).
Ukraine has estimated that the reconstruction of destroyed cities and industries causes almost 50 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
– [Sodan aikaisten] the amount of emissions is comparable to the emissions of entire countries, says a climate economist to the Guardian Axel Michaelowawho has studied wartime pollution.
Chairman of the Finnish climate panel, professor Markku Ollikainen confirms to that the carbon dioxide emissions of the war in Ukraine already correspond to the annual amount in Finland.
He estimates that the emissions from the eight-month war are currently up to 40 million tons.
– To a large extent, the emissions come from the destruction of fossil fuels and movement in war.
Reconstruction, on the other hand, requires carbon dioxide emissions of 50–60 million tons, according to Ollikainen.
– In total, we are talking about almost one hundred million tons of carbon dioxide, Ollikainen sums up.
According to Ollikainen, the reconstruction of Ukraine can take place in a climate-friendly manner if the country moves from fossil fuels to renewable energy production.
Russia’s willingness to compensate is unlikely
Russia and a number of countries that have not condemned Russia’s attack on Ukraine will also be present at the climate meeting in Egypt, which ends on Friday.
Ukraine has announced that it is collecting evidence of environmental crimes to sue Russia (you switch to another service). Ukraine told about it at the meeting in Egypt last week.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi said in a video speech at the climate conference that the Russian attack threatens international efforts to combat global warming.
According to Zelensky, not everyone in politics and the economy still takes climate issues seriously.
– There can be no effective climate policy without peace, Zelenskyi stated.
According to Markku Ollikainen, it is difficult to see that Russia would ever be liable for compensation.
– A lot would have to happen in Russian society so that the country would be willing to compensate. I don’t think that would be a politically expected development.
Staying at 1.5 degrees “not possible”
The latest from the UN environmental organization UNEP Emissions Gap Report (you switch to another service) says that the gap between climate goals and actions is still huge.
The joint commitment of all countries at last year’s Glasgow climate conference was that more work be done for climate action.
However, according to the UNEP report, there is no longer a “credible path” to the goal set in 2015 of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees.
Concerns have also been expressed in the negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, that the goal will be missed (you will switch to another service).
The developing countries’ demand for compensation for climate damage is also stuck in place, and no compromises have been found after almost two weeks of negotiations.
According to the environmental organization Unep, with current actions, the planet would be warming by an average of 2.4–2.6 degrees by the end of the century.
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