At the UN COP27 climate summit in Egypt, Ukraine claimed that Russia’s invasion of the country has caused many warming gases to be released into the atmosphere.
Ukraine claimed that the amount is the equivalent of adding nearly 16 million cars to the UK’s roads for two years, adding that it has already commenced the collection of evidence of environmental crimes with which to sue Russia.
Ukraine’s environmental protection minister, Ruslan Strilets also claimed that precious animal and plant life has been destroyed as a result of the releases even as the war has led directly to emissions of 33 million tons of greenhouse gases that warm the Earth’s atmosphere.
“Russia has turned our natural reserves into a military base. Russia is doing everything to shorten our and your horizons,” he was quoted as saying. “Because of the war, we will have to do even more to overcome the climate crisis”.
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The minister also said that his delegation at the climate summit did not plan to meet Russian representatives in Egypt and that “If we do accidentally, we won’t talk to them”.
According to reports, the figure was calculated by counting emissions including from forest fires and agricultural fires, as well as the oil burnt after attacks on storage depots.
In his reaction, Strilets also claimed that rebuilding Ukraine will cause significantly more emissions, up to 49 million tons of carbon dioxide.
While stating that Russia must bear responsibility for these emissions, the country claimed that it had so far gathered evidence of 2,000 “environmental crimes” costing 37 million euros, including the destruction of forests, the release of toxic gases, and damage to water facilities since the start of the war in February.
Ukraine said that it plans to use the evidence to seek compensation from Russia for damage caused and when asked if Ukraine has been able to assess environmental damage in recently liberated Kherson, Strelets said it is too early for scientists to access all parts of the city.
The government further claimed that about 600 animals and 750 plants and fungi, including endangered species, are under threat even as 120 deaths of dolphins in the Black Sea, which it links to the war have been documented.
Story was adapted from the BBC.
