The Rebuilding of Gaza Will be an Environmental Catastrophe

Rebuilding Gaza after the devastating conflict with Israel will generate more greenhouse gas emissions than the annual output of 135 individual countries, exacerbating the global climate crisis on top of the unprecedented humanitarian disaster. New research from the UK and US reveals that the reconstruction of around 200,000 damaged or destroyed buildings will produce approximately 60 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e). This figure parallels the 2022 emissions of countries like Portugal and Sweden and more than doubles Afghanistan’s annual emissions.

The long-term reconstruction will account for the largest carbon cost, with over 26 million tons of debris and rubble left from the bombardments, necessitating years of clean-up efforts. The study, published on the Social Science Research Network, highlights the environmental toll of the ongoing war, which has already claimed over 36,500 Palestinian lives, predominantly women and children.

During the first 120 days of the conflict, the carbon emissions from Israeli aerial and ground attacks exceeded the annual emissions of 26 climate-vulnerable nations, such as Vanuatu and Greenland. More than 99% of the estimated 652,552 metric tonnes of CO2e generated are attributed to Israel’s military operations. The emissions from American cargo planes delivering military supplies alone accounted for nearly 30% of this total.

These figures underscore the environmental impact of military activities. The initial four months of the conflict generated CO2e emissions equivalent to the combined annual energy use of 77,200 American households. In contrast, Hamas’s carbon footprint over the same period was equivalent to the annual energy use of 454 American homes.

Researchers also calculated emissions from humanitarian aid deliveries and diesel-powered generators now relied upon in Gaza after the destruction of solar facilities and the enclave’s power plant. The 1,400 trucks that delivered aid generated almost 9,000 tonnes of CO2e, with an additional 58,000 tCO2e from diesel generators. The analysis emphasizes the asymmetry in the war machinery of both sides. Israel’s military emissions in 2023 alone, excluding wartime activities, were estimated at 3.85 million tCO2e, around 5% of its annual emissions. The Gaza Metro’s construction and Israel’s border wall also contributed significantly to the carbon footprint.

As international legal experts accuse Israel of committing domicide and ecocide, and the International Court of Justice finds plausible evidence of genocide, the conflict’s environmental and climate consequences remain severe. The new study calls for greater accountability of military emissions, stressing that the carbon costs of war must be counted alongside humanitarian and environmental impacts.

There’s Only One Green Planet Tee by Tiny Rescue: Climate Collection

Related Content:

• Gaza Zookeeper Flees Rafah to Create Home for Animals
• The UN is Investigating the Environmental Impact of the Gaza Conflict
• Feral Dogs from Gaza Pose New Threat in Israel
• The War in Gaza is Starving Zoo Animals
• Israel-Gaza Conflict’s Huge Climate Impact

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Adopt-a-Pet: Visit WildWatchers, a watchdog platform specifically designed for animal, earth, and wildlife warriors to actively give back, rescue, and protect animals and the planet.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!