More than 200 million tonnes of emissions from the Ukrainian war have already generated emissions.
The Russian offensive war in Ukraine has caused widespread damage not only for people but also for the environment throughout the country.
Bombing destroys nature. Businesses and chemicals to soil, water and groundwater are spreading to soil, water and mines in production facilities such as oil refineries and mines.
Similar destruction has not occurred since World War II.
– Industrial sectors are damaged, civilian infrastructure is damaged, buildings, groundwater pollution. Now we also see a clearer picture of climate damage, says a researcher at the University of Helsinki and an adjunct professor of legal sociology Freek van der vetwho pulls the university Toxic Crimes research project.
After three years of warfare, over 200 million tonnes of the Ukrainian war has already resulted in climate emissions.
Emissions increased by 31 % over the last 12 months to 229.7 million CO2 equivalent tons. It corresponds to annual emissions from Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia or annual emissions of 120 million cars.
This is how the expert group evaluates Initiative on GHG Accounting of War in a recent report.
“It is always clear how much war affects not only directly on the environment, but also on the climate,” says van der Vet.
The Russian war in Ukraine has caused a lot of forest fires last year. The double number of forests and terrain burned compared to previous years. The reason is the military measures that set fires, as well as the drier summers brought by climate change.
The war itself is the biggest cause of emissions in the war. Emissions from military action continued to grow steadily over the last 12 months. More specifically, the fuel consumed by heavy vehicles is the most emission.
The reconstruction of damaged buildings and infrastructure is the next largest cause of emissions.
The fact that airplanes are touring Russia and Ukraine airspace because of the war, emissions from flying.
The findings are preliminary and some of the data in the last 12 months has yet been published.
Russia accountable for emissions?
Russia should be liable for emissions and damage to the climate, the writers of the report say. According to them, Russia’s responsibility for emissions emissions is over $ 42 billion in carbon pricing.
Report Editor, Dutchman Lennard de clark says in the report that when peace talks are ongoing, climate costs should not be overlooked.
“Russia started this war and should bear the cost of its climate emissions,” says De Kerrk.
Currently, several initiatives are pending to bring Russia accountable to the environment and possibly also on climate damage.
Soil and watercourse may never be cleared
Contamination affects soil, groundwater and food security.
According to freek van der Vet, it may take decades to clean pollution and some damage can not even be repaired. For example, pollution during the First World War can still be found in the soil.
– This can take a very long time to clean if possible at all. Some of the damage can no longer be repaired, says van der Vet.