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The Environmental mess created by Russia Ukraine war will definitely incite debate about Clean and healthy environment. There is another debate on Economics of War going on over the dependency on Petroleum products and alternate source of energy. More interesting part is the Carbon Foot printing record that Russia had which was about 5 per cent, will shift the focus towards how to protect the environment. The risk of Carbon Pollution due to war is becoming a greater concern.
When something unusual happens, like war, we forget the environmental damage, may be because loss of human life becomes more important. Same thing is happening in Russian-Ukraine War. Why?! Is everything is fair in Love and War? But here we are talking about the War and its economics! Yes the Environmental Economics! Unfortunately, the whole focus has gone into Global Politics and tussle between two super powers!
What was the Carbon Footprints of Iraq War?
The World will know what amount of Carbon pollution the war between Russia and Ukraine will cause, but we do have some data on War in Iraq. As per The Guardian, it is estimated in Iraq war since year 2003, about 690 MT of Carbon di Oxide was emitted and the carbon footprint of limited nuclear exchange was estimated to about 250-600 MT.
What is a Carbon Footprint?
When we talk about Greenhouse gas, China contributes about 30 per cent from its emissions followed by United States of 15 per cent and European Union with 9 per cent. Interestingly contribution of Russia is only 5 per cent! The figure of Ukraine is not available while writing this article. Now this figure will be doubtful after continuous use of warfare and destruction happening in this European continent.
Since it is a complex process to calculate exact Carbon foot print, Wright, Kemp, and Williams defined it as "A measure of the total amount of Carbon di Oxide (CO2) and Methane (CH4) emissions of a defined population, system or activity, considering all relevant sources, sinks and storage within the spatial and temporal boundary of the population, system or activity of interest. Calculated as carbon dioxide equivalent using the relevant 100-year global warming potential (GWP100)."
It has been reported that Climate Change has started from the time of Industrial Revolution in 1820's! It is due to increased use of fossil fuels, energy usage and falling of forest trees, the green house gas has increased in the atmosphere. It also made difficult to achieve reduced greenhouse gas footprints.
Those who want to know how to calculate Carbon Footprints of themselves, there are many website which can give you the estimate. There is one link from Tata Power, will definitely give you an idea.
It is very interesting to note whether UN is thinking on that way or not. It may sound awkward to talk about Energy Auditing after the War or during this period. In one of its report the United Nations warns that any further delay in climate action will miss a "brief and rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a livable and sustainable future for all."
The green house gas includes Carbon di Oxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide, which are produced naturally, while Fluorinated gases including Hydro Floro carbons (HFCs), Per Fluorocarbons (PFCs), Sulphur hexa Fluoride (SF6), and Nitrogen tri Fluoride (NF3) which are produced from Human Industrial activities.
We all know about Carbon di Oxide as it is important component of Environmental Life cycle. Animals and Human beings breath oxygen and exhale carbon di oxide, while plant inhale Carbon di Oxide and release Oxygen! Also, by burning of Fossil fuels, cutting of forest and Industrial pollution releases Carbon di Oxide in the atmosphere.
Another component which heats atmosphere is Methane gas, which traps more heat than Carbon di Oxide. It is released by burning of Coal, Fossil Fuels and emission from Industries using Natural gas.
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is released by fuel combustion, most of which comes from coal fired power plants, agricultural and industrial activities.
If we talk of War, we can find unusual emissions of these three Gases in the war zone.
What is concern with Russian Fossil Fuels?
Concern is being cropping up as Russia is the world's biggest exporter of Oil and Natural Gas. This fuel is used by European countries to heat up their home, car and for generation of electricity. This is about €11 billion business.
After the inception of the war between Russia and Ukraine, European Union had started planning to install large turbines, heating pumps and Solar Energy systems. It is notable to hear that Germany, by 2035 plans to decarbonize it electricity supply! Apart from this plan of building 2 liquified Natural Gas Terminals is also there.
There is a great fear of rise in cost of Petroleum products in near future and also shifting focus of Coal Energy, the fuel which the World is slowly phasing off. The main concern is that if Russia cuts of gas supply, then European will be forced towards Coal Supply. This will definitely jeopardize the effort to save environment and slow down carbon emission campaign by UN.
Will Saving Energy, hurt Russia?
This is too tricky to answer. The Energy market is coming under deeper crisis. Germany's Economy and Climate Minister, Robert Habeck was quoted saying "If you want to hurt Putin a little then save energy!"
Whether you like or not, after this Russian-Ukraine war European leaders are now focusing of Saving Energy and advising citizens to turn the heat down in their houses!
Georg Zachmann, a climate analyst from Brussels based organization Bruegel says that, "If an embargo is coming or Russia cuts off gas, then we would burn more coal and see higher emissions in the short-term".
It is very challenging to calculate exact Carbon Footprints from the war zone. We understand that direct costs of wars are so huge that it is difficult to estimate its environmental impact. Now a days forces are biggest consumers of energy and this is definitely going to contribute higher carbon footprints harming human kind in future than in battlefield.
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