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Amy Bowe 📝👇🏼 Thank you for sharing this ❤️ “Today, ~2 billion people around the world are observing Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. On a day traditionally celebrated with joyous feasts, one group of people that will not be celebrating in the same way are the 2.2 million people of Gaza, at least 85% of which are displaced and 50% of which are experiencing starvation, with the other 50% in food crisis or emergency. In addition to the humanitarian catastrophe, the conflict also represents an environmental catastrophe. A study published in December by a team of researchers from Queen Mary University and Lancaster University in the UK and the Climate and Community Project in the US, attempted to estimate the climate impact of the war, including: 💥 6,990 kilotonnes CO2 equivalent (KtCO2e) emissions related to Israeli defense spending based on its 2019 military budget of US$20.3 billion. In February, Israel passed an amended budget for 2023-2024 that saw defence spending increase 85% over pre-war levels to $32.6 billion. On this basis, emissions associated with Israeli military spending would equate to 11,215 KtCO2e, roughly the size of North Macedonia’s Scope 1 emissions. 💥 281 KtCO2e in emissions directly associated with the conflict during the first 60 days, including fighter jets, supply planes, artillery, tanks and vehicles. If we extend that analysis for the full 185 days of the conflict so far, direct emissions would equate to 866 KtCO2e. 💥 30,000 ktCO2e for reconstruction based on 100,000 buildings destroyed in the first 60 days. As of mid-March, the number of buildings estimated to have been destroyed totalled 157,200, which would increase the emissions associated with reconstruction to 47,160 ktCO2e. In aggregate, emissions associated with these three categories would total more than 59,241 ktCO2e, roughly equivalent to Portugal’s emissions. And the war rages on . . . The researchers were quick to admit the limitations of the study. Emissions from military operations remain under-analysed; according to the UNEP’s 2023 Emissions Gap report, military emissions are “insufficiently accounted” for by the UNFCCC. Using the “mortality cost of carbon” metric developed by Columbia University researcher Daniel Bressler in 2021, these emissions would result in ~13,360 excess deaths between now and 2100. That still pales in comparison to the more than 33,000 lives and counting that have been lost in the conflict in the past seven months. This Eid, let us all pray, regardless of our religious affiliations, for a permanent end to the hostilities. Even better, let us actively call on our governments to end the hostilities.
Wishing a joyous and prosperous Eid to those celebrating today!
