The current conflict in Iran is posing a significant threat to the ecosystems of the Persian Gulf, due to the military escalation that has affected oil infrastructures and caused episodes of environmental pollution.
Experts warn that attacks on energy facilities and the congestion of tankers in the Strait of Hormuz could trigger a severe environmental crisis in this fragile area, crucial for both marine biodiversity and the global energy supply.
The devastation caused by bombings and fires in the region could become an ecological catastrophe of global dimensions. In Tehran, a toxic cloud has covered the sky as a result of fires at oil facilities, releasing dangerous compounds into the air.
Researchers from the Conflict and Environment Observatory have pointed out that these damages could have a lasting environmental impact. Industrial destruction releases pollutants that could degrade the soil and contaminate water sources.
threat to Persian Gulf ecosystems
Since the beginning of hostilities in Iran, the effects have transcended the geopolitical and are intensely affecting the environment of the Persian Gulf, a region already enduring extreme natural conditions and now facing a new significant ecological threat.
March 8 witnessed a notable event when a polluting cloud covered Tehran, with toxic precipitation originating from fires at oil facilities resulting from the bombings.
Specialists in environmental impacts of war conflicts warn that the consequences of these attacks could be prolonged. A report from CEOBS highlights that industrial destruction could cause persistent soil and water contamination, as well as release large amounts of polluting gases.
The report titled Black Rain warns about how toxic particles are already depositing on urban surfaces, which could eventually affect agricultural soil and contaminate water sources.
Dust storms, common in the region, can redistribute these pollutants in the air, increasing the population’s exposure.
The Strait of Hormuz, vital for the global trade of oil and gas, has become an area of critical environmental risk due to the accumulation of tankers, which are trapped or navigating with extreme caution amid military tensions.
Greenpeace warns that the concentration of crude-loaded vessels raises the risk of an ecological disaster. At times, nearly 90 tankers have been counted transporting more than 18 billion liters of oil.
An incident in this area would severely affect the Persian Gulf, home to unique marine ecosystems and migratory routes for numerous species, including marine mammals.
Greenpeace Germany has created a monitoring system in collaboration with the Norwegian Meteorological Institute to track in real-time the position of tankers and predict natural areas potentially affected by a spill.
Armed conflicts not only represent human tragedies but also deeply impact ecosystems and communities dependent on them. The destruction of infrastructures and the resulting pollution leave effects that can last for decades.
This environmental impact adds to the military climate footprint, a crucial element rarely incorporated into international strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Emissions from the military sector were excluded from the Kyoto Protocol, and although the Paris Agreement requests voluntary reports, few countries have provided them, and generally incompletely.
Indirect analyses suggest that military activity could account for between 0.5% and 1.3% of global emissions, according to variables such as military spending and fuel consumption.
The United States Department of Defense represented approximately 76% of the U.S. federal government’s emissions in 2021 due to its intensive use of fossil fuels.
This scenario highlights a paradox: while the world seeks to reduce its climate impact, one of its most polluting sectors remains largely outside international controls.
armed conflicts and climate crisis
The link between armed conflicts and climate crisis is increasingly evident. Each increase in military spending translates into greater energy consumption and emissions, diverting valuable resources that could be allocated to addressing climate change.
The report highlights the risks of the Strait of Hormuz, where numerous tankers transport a crucial part of the world’s fossil fuels through delicate marine ecosystems.
Organizations like Greenpeace warn that a spill in this region would have disastrous consequences, while military operations remain a significant factor in unreported global greenhouse gas emissions.
