Destruction unleashed by large-scale wars leads to commensurate levels of environmental damageThe writer is an academic and researcher. Yet another major cost often goes unnoticed: the massive environmental destruction that conflicts unleash. Clearing debris from conflict zones, such as Gaza, can generate tens of thousands of tonnes of additional greenhouse gases, prolonging environmental harm for decades. The environmental and ecological costs of militarism extend far beyond the battlefield. It is also worth noting that this estimate of military emissions does not include pollution and environmental destruction caused by active conflicts.

Source: The Express Tribune March 19, 2026 20:07 UTC