But response times have slowed as foresters, firefighters and equipment have been mobilized or redeployed to cities, leading to higher intensity fires across the country, the report said. Suppression of aerial fires also decreased, with about a third (38%) of Ukraine’s 4,216 fire trucks suffering damage.
Strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, including fossil fuel storage and the Nord Stream pipeline, are also a significant source of emissions.
The latter’s destruction resulted in methane spewing from the seafloor, with climate impacts equivalent to 14 MtCO over the course of a week.2e, while for several months It is estimated that more than 150 million cubic meters of natural gas has been lost in uncontrolled fires on Black Sea drilling platforms.
Massive fires have broken out at at least 15 Ukrainian oil-related storage facilities, causing approximately 1.1 MtCO2 in damage.2e gas networks have suffered at least 277 hits when it comes to emissions.
The report’s authors note that sulfur hexafluoride (SF), the single most powerful greenhouse gas, has an unusual impact.6, an unusually large amount escaped during the conflict. It is used to insulate electrical switchgear and has a heating potential nearly 23,000 times higher than carbon dioxide.
SF approx. 40 tons6This corresponds to approximately one million tons of CO.2,It turns out they are believed to have escaped after more than 1,000 Russian airstrikes damaged about half of Ukraine’s high-voltage network facilities.
indirect emissions
Meanwhile, there are more than 18 million km of detour flight routes.2 Added time to travel between Europe and Asia, consuming additional fuel in Ukrainian and Russian airspace. Virgin Atlantic has suspended flights from London to Hong Kong for the first time in almost 30 years, citing diversions, while Finnair and SAS have closed or reduced flights. Net emissions are estimated to total just over 24 MtCO2.
The fortification of Ukraine and the rearmament of Europe are also fueling demand for explosives, steel and other carbon-intensive materials.
Total military spending worldwide reaches $2.4 trillion In 2023, it will increase by 6.8% in real terms since 2022, marking the steepest year-on-year increase since 2009. In addition to production, long-distance delivery of heavy weapons contributes to emissions.
The Ukrainian government welcomed this report, saying it would help in the compensation lawsuit against Russia. In 2022, the United Nations General Assembly will vote agree to the resolution Moscow assumed responsibility for war compensation for Ukraine, and the Council of Europe write Damage including climate emissions. Frozen Russian assets can be used to settle costs.
“Currently, Ukraine is the epicenter of Russian eco-terrorism,” said Ruslan Strilets, Ukraine’s Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources. “Nevertheless, we keep pace with the times and are actively involved in finding global solutions.” said.
“Even amid the war, Ukraine has been actively participating in the UN Climate Summit. We have opened a climate secretariat and approved a climate policy strategy until 2035. We are waiting for Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada (parliament) to approve key climate laws. there is.” ,” he added.
He said the country also plans to launch an emissions trading system and join the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
