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1. ENERGY
2. BIODIVERSITY
Energy is, of course, one of the most environmentally damag- ing outputs of war. Because reports on military emissions are voluntary, it's very difficult to gage just how big of an impact it has on the current climate. A 2022 estimation from nations who do report their emissions estimated that militarisation accounts for nearly 6% of global emissions - if the world's militaries were a country, they would be the fourth biggest contributor to global warming. Here in the UK, our defence min- istries consume the most fossil fuels out of all the government agencies. Not only do militaries consume massive amounts of fossil fuels even in times of peace, oil production, storage and transportation is frequently targeted in warfare, and the conse- quent spillage and fires not only release greenhouse gases but also pollute areas for local wildlife and drinking and sanitation systems.
Wildlife and biodiversity suffer greatly during times of war, and this only elongates the suffering of local people; war doesn't end when the politicians in power make their agreements. War is a driver of deforestation and industrial pollution, and its fre- quent use of ammunition, bombing and fire-starting can de- stroy the crops, soil and farmland of agricultural communities. Modern, long-distance warfare can also kill up to 90% of large animals in an area, wiping out livestock and native species. By destroying local land, war cuts people off from access to food, clean water and energy. Vegetation too, when burned or re- moved, emits carbon dioxide. It's so important that every nation recognizes that when one community suffers, we all do.
And the destruction of war doesn't just have an environmen- tal cost, the essential steps to rebuilding communities do too. Removing debris and rebuilding homes and infrastruc- ture requires vast amounts of energy and resources. Institu- tions like the UN Environment Programme have been curat- ing conflict-specific plans to help rebuild lives in Ukraine and Gaza, creating models and management scenarios such as waste disposal and recycling, to ensure that reconstruction in the face of war can be made as sustainable as possible as well as helping to get local communities back on their feet as quickly and as accessibly as possible.