Israel’s War on Gaza Emits More Carbon Than 100 Countries Combined, Study Finds

A groundbreaking report reveals over 31 million tonnes of carbon emissions from Israel’s war and Gaza’s planned reconstruction—exposing the military-industrial complex’s hidden toll on the planet.

Palestine, PUREWILAYAH.COM - A new study published on the Social Science Research Network and shared exclusively with The Guardian has uncovered a staggering environmental dimension of Israel’s war on Gaza.

Over the course of just 15 months, the war has generated over 31 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e)—more than the annual emissions of 100 countries, including Costa Rica and Estonia.

The research, conducted by UK and US experts, presents Israel’s military operations and the resulting destruction as a major yet overlooked contributor to global climate change.

Israel Responsible for 99% of Conflict Emissions

The study attributes 99% of the 1.89 million tCO2e produced between October 7, 2023, and January 2025 directly to Israeli airstrikes, ground assaults, and military logistics.

In contrast, Palestinian resistance activity accounted for just 0.2% of emissions—around 3,000 tonnes—highlighting the vastly disproportionate environmental impact of Israel’s war machine.

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The U.S. Role: Nearly One-Third of Emissions Linked to American Arms

The study also implicates the United States. Nearly 30% of total war-related emissions stemmed from U.S. arms shipments—including 50,000 tonnes of weapons flown in, mostly from European stockpiles. Israeli military hardware—including tanks, aircraft, and munitions—accounted for another 20% of emissions.

The environmental damage doesn’t end with the war. The reconstruction of Gaza, following the destruction of over 60 million tonnes of rubble, is projected to generate an additional 29.4 million tCO2e—a number comparable to Afghanistan’s entire emissions in 2023.

Before the war, 25% of Gaza’s electricity came from solar energy, but Israel destroyed much of this renewable infrastructure, along with Gaza’s only power plant.

This has forced a reliance on diesel generators, which have already contributed 130,000 tonnes of emissions, or 7% of the total war-related footprint.

War-Fueled Climate Damage Beyond Gaza: Lebanon, Yemen, Iran

The study further analyzed Israel’s military operations across the region:

• Lebanon: 3,747 tCO2e (90% from Israeli airstrikes)

• Yemen: 2,750 tCO2e from Israeli missile attacks

• Iran: 5,000 tCO2e from missile exchanges, with 80% attributed to Israel

Even humanitarian aid efforts added to emissions. 70,000 aid trucks entering Gaza during the war contributed over 40% of fuel-related emissions, despite the UN calling the aid "grossly insufficient."

Israel’s Military Emissions Exceed Some Nations' Entire Footprint

Even without factoring in war-related activity, Israel’s peacetime military emissions in 2024 stood at 6.5 million tCO2e—surpassing entire nations like Eritrea. That same year, Israel increased its military budget to $46.5 billion, the largest jump globally.

Yet under current UN climate protocols, there is no requirement to report military carbon emissions, creating what experts call a dangerous accountability gap.

Experts Warn: Environmental Crimes Must Not Go Unpunished

UN Special Rapporteur Astrid Puentes described the findings as “evidence of the urgency to halt atrocities” and called on all states to uphold international environmental law.

Zena Agha, policy analyst at Al-Shabaka, stated the data exposes the climate cost of the military-industrial complex, emphasizing that Israel’s war is part of a larger pattern of environmental destabilization supported by Western powers.

Hadeel Ikhmais, of the Palestinian Environmental Quality Authority, warned:

“Wars not only kill people—they poison the air, soil, and water. They unleash toxic chemicals, destroy infrastructure, and accelerate climate disaster. Failing to count carbon emissions is a black hole in accountability that lets environmental war crimes go unpunished.”

As the world races to address climate change, military emissions remain a blind spot. Israel’s war on Gaza, as this study reveals, represents not just a humanitarian and political crisis—but a major environmental one.

In a time of global climate emergency, ignoring the carbon footprint of war may prove just as deadly as the bombs themselves. (PW)

Source: Al-Mayadeen