A new study has revealed that the Israel-Gaza conflict has caused massive damage not only to lives and infrastructure, but also to the environment.
Researchers say the war produced more than 30 million tons of carbon emissions, raising fresh concerns about how conflicts are worsening global climate change.
The study shows that by January 2025, direct emissions from active fighting alone reached 1.3 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. When emissions from activities before and after the war were added, the total rose sharply to 33.2 million tons.
The study title “Israel-Gaza conflict carbon emissions exceeded 30 million tons,” published on ScienceDirect explains that the emissions came from three main stages which included preparations before the war, the fighting itself, and rebuilding after destruction.
Before the war began, large construction activities had already released significant emissions. The study found that a 500-kilometre tunnel network built by Hamas produced about 176,838 tons of emissions, mainly from concrete and steel.
On the other side, Israel’s 65-kilometre “Iron Wall” generated about 320,105 tons of emissions, also from heavy use of steel and concrete.
Together, these structures produced nearly 496,943 tons of emissions before the conflict started, with the Iron Wall contributing about 65 percent and the tunnels about 35 percent.
During the conflict, military operations and logistics added even more pollution. The study shows that the United States transported about 50,000 tons of military equipment to Israel using 507 aircraft and 107 ship journeys between October 2023 and January 2025.
These deliveries alone produced about 278,038 tons of carbon emissions, making up roughly 21 percent of emissions from active fighting.
Fuel use also played a major role. Millions of litres of fuel were used for military vehicles and electricity generation, especially after power systems were destroyed. This alone added hundreds of thousands of tons of emissions.
Humanitarian aid, though necessary to save lives, also contributed to emissions. Trucks, planes, and ships delivering over 1.3 million tons of aid produced more than 113,000 tons of carbon emissions. However, the biggest impact comes after the war.
The study estimates that rebuilding destroyed homes, roads, hospitals, and other infrastructure could generate about 31.4 million tons of emissions. This is because reconstruction requires large amounts of materials like cement and steel, which are highly polluting to produce.
Experts say this total level of emissions is equal to the annual carbon output of a country like Jordan, or the pollution from 7.6 million petrol cars in one year. Despite this, emissions from wars are often not included in global climate reporting.
Researchers warn that this gap is a serious problem. They say without proper accounting, it becomes difficult for the world to fully understand and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“Emissions associated with military activities represent a significant reporting gap, with direct emissions from conflicts frequently unreported and pre- and post-conflict emissions consistently overlooked,” the study noted.
It adds that, the situation weakens global efforts under international climate frameworks such as the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global warming.
The study calls for urgent action and urges countries and international bodies to include military and conflict-related emissions in climate reporting and policies.
It also aligns with growing global discussions under the United Nations climate process and principles that seek to protect the environment during and after armed conflicts.
Researchers believe that better data and transparency will help the world respond more effectively to climate change.
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