Gaza War Raises Environmental and Climate Concerns at COP28 Summit

Ongoing conflict devastates infrastructure, hampers climate change measures, and poses significant health risks.

Devastation from the ongoing war in Gaza is raising concerns about environmental and climate crises at the COP28 summit, with large areas of agricultural land destroyed, water resources contaminated, and potential environmental damage from the use of white phosphorus.
Over 15,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed since October, and the destruction of infrastructure makes it impossible for the country to focus on climate and environmental issues.
Israel's bombing has severely impacted Gaza's climate change measures, with damage to solar panels setting back efforts to secure clean energy.
Contaminated water supplies and decaying bodies pose a significant health risk, with the spread of diseases like cholera predicted.
The war is also contributing to carbon emissions and global warming, with the manufacture and use of weapons, destruction of buildings, and subsequent reconstruction all adding to the problem.