THE escalating conflict in the Middle East is taking a serious toll on the environment, from massive fuel use by warplanes and ships to toxic smoke from burning oil facilities. Experts warn that military operations, the destruction of infrastructure, and post-war reconstruction together create huge greenhouse gas emissions.
Research inOne Earthestimated the Gaza conflict produced 33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent—similar to the annual emissions of Jordan — while the war in Ukraine has added more than 300 million tonnes.
Fighting near the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global oil shipments, has raised the risk of major pollution from attacks on refineries and tankers. Burning oil and gas installations release deadly fumes and enormous climate costs, reminiscent of Kuwait’s oil fires in the 1990s that emitted up to 400 million tonnes of CO₂. The conflict’s ripple effects are also economic.
Surging energy prices have pressured governments to ease climate measures, though experts note that higher fossil fuel costs could accelerate renewable adoption and electrification.
Meanwhile, strikes on industrial and military sites across Iran and neighbouring countries threaten severe air, water, and soil contamination, with experts warning of longterm risks to ecosystems and human health.
AFP
#TheGlobalNewLightOfMyanmar