Climate threatGlobal challenges

The war in Ukraine corresponds to the emissions from 175 countries

The first two years of the war in Ukraine have involved emissions of greenhouse gases equivalent to the annual emissions of 175 countries, according to an extensive study according to The Guardian.

Russia's invasion has resulted in the release of 175 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalents through warfare, fires, rerouted flight routes, displacement of people, and leaks caused by attacks on fossil fuel infrastructure.

The study is carried out by the Initiative on Greenhouse Gas Accounting of War, which is partly funded by the governments of Sweden and Germany, and the European Climate Foundation.

The researchers calculate that Russia owes the equivalent of SEK 320 billion in climate damages.

- The Russian Federation must pay its debt to Ukraine and to the countries in the global south that will take the biggest hit from climate damage, says lead author Lennard de Klerk.