NATO counted the numbers on Tuesday $32 billion in climate damage caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine since the conflict began in February 2022.

On the occasion of the Atlantic Alliance summit in Washington, NATO published the annual report of its Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on climate change and security.

The assessment is part of the action plan on climate change and security that NATO leaders adopted at their summit in Brussels in 2021.

In particular, it examines the impact of climate change on each of NATO’s operational areas. -sea, land, air, space and cyber-as well as in Alliance missions and operations, and in civil resilience and preparedness.

For the first time, the document includes an analysis of the impact of climate change on NATO’s potential adversaries and strategic competitors, and also examines the climate consequences of Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The report stresses that “in addition to human suffering, the invasion had devastating climatic and ecological consequences with far-reaching impacts across Ukraine and beyond.”

Although estimates vary, analysts suggest that up to 175 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) were released in the first 24 months of the war.

In addition, forest fires caused by attacks on oil depots, oil tankers, refineries and other hostile actions have consumed fields and forests, releasing additional emissions into the atmosphere and reducing the ability of vegetation to act as a carbon sink.

The report added that airspace restrictions over Ukraine and Russia were increasing carbon emissions in the aviation sector as commercial aircraft flew longer, less fuel-efficient routes.

In total, NATO estimates the total climate damage from this conflict at $32 billion (€29,612 million).

In parallel, the study shows that Ukraine’s recovery from the conflict will require the reconstruction of critical infrastructure, housing, public buildings and industrial facilities across the country, and in the worst-affected regions, entire cities.

This reconstruction will require, in particular, the production of concrete and cement, which “could cause significant additional emissions.”

As part of this assessment of the impact of climate change on security, NATO conducted studies in three geographic areas of its presence: Kosovo, the Rovajärvi firing and training range in Finland, and the joint Canada-US early warning radar system for North American air defence (Norad).

He also assessed the effectiveness of submarines, naval helicopters and military transport aircraft in a changing climate.

The report is a response to NATO’s desire to increase awareness and understanding of the impact of climate change on its security and will help the Alliance adapt to this new strategic and operational environment, the organization said.

EFE