The ongoing global conflicts pose serious environmental risks, including the potential for radioactive contamination from Iran’s nuclear sites.
Impact of Conflicts/War on Environment
- Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions: Global militaries contribute around 5.5% of worldwide emissions.
- Pollution and Contamination: The conflict in industrialized eastern Ukraine, with power plants, chemical factories, and old mines, risks releasing highly toxic pollutants.
- In Ukraine, landmines and unexploded ordnance pose long-term risks, with soil, water, and forests polluted by conflict. Its cleanup may cost around US$34.6 billion.
- Resource Depletion and Biodiversity Loss: Wars drive deforestation, disrupt agriculture, and harm biodiversity through habitat loss, poaching, and military activity.
- For instance, during the Vietnam War, the widespread use of herbicides like Agent Orange resulted in the defoliation of vast forested areas.
International Agreements
- Paris Agreement 2015: It made reporting of military emissions voluntary.
- Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court 1998: It describes widespread, long-term, and severe damage to the environment during international armed conflict as war crime.
- Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques (ENMOD): Prohibits the use of environmental modification techniques (such as weather manipulation).