On the 6th of November 2024, ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference in Baku, the Collective Action Think Tank hosted an expert-led discussion focusing on the ecological consequences of the war, its regional impacts, and the opportunities for a sustainable recovery.
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the devastation has extended beyond human loss, with widespread destruction of infrastructure and ecosystems, often described as urbicide and ecocide.The impacts are severe: in addition to human casualties, there is significant biodiversity loss, chemical pollution from munitions, wildfires, increased greenhouse gas emissions from military actions, and environmental damage from infrastructure destruction—most notably the Kakhovka Dam disaster. These direct harms are compounded by longer-term effects, such as tons of concrete to be managed, leading to significant CO2 emissions, resource extraction, and additional pollution from new construction projects, etc.
Ukraine bears the brunt of this damage, but the environmental impacts reach far beyond its borders. Ecosystems do not recognize political boundaries, meaning damage in one location can have negative effects on distant regions, namely the Danube river delta and Black Sea..
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the devastation has extended beyond human loss, with widespread destruction of infrastructure and ecosystems, often described as urbicide and ecocide.The impacts are severe: in addition to human casualties, there is significant biodiversity loss, chemical pollution from munitions, wildfires, increased greenhouse gas emissions from military actions, and environmental damage from infrastructure destruction—most notably the Kakhovka Dam disaster. These direct harms are compounded by longer-term effects, such as tons of concrete to be managed, leading to significant CO2 emissions, resource extraction, and additional pollution from new construction projects, etc.
Ukraine bears the brunt of this damage, but the environmental impacts reach far beyond its borders. Ecosystems do not recognize political boundaries, meaning damage in one location can have negative effects on distant regions, namely the Danube river delta and Black Sea..
Speakers
Alexej Ovchinnikov, Belarusian environmental activist, journalist and researcher in exile, editor-in-chief of UWEC Work Group; member of Green Network, Belarusian environmental organization in exile.
Oana Filip, Romanian journalist working for Romanian Scena 9 and as an independent journalist collaborating with various European media outlets; among other topics specializes on the environmental issues.
Oana Filip, Romanian journalist working for Romanian Scena 9 and as an independent journalist collaborating with various European media outlets; among other topics specializes on the environmental issues.
Commentator
Linas Svolkinas, environmental scholar, Data Researcher and Analyst at CEOBS
Moderator
Dr. Oleg Pachenkov, advocacy and outreach manager at CABT.
Related texts
Russia-Ukraine War: Environmental Impact
Russia’s war on Ukraine: High environmental toll
Caught in the current: navigating war impact on the Danube delta (and why this should concern you).
Russia’s war on Ukraine: High environmental toll
Caught in the current: navigating war impact on the Danube delta (and why this should concern you).
This event is for
- EU staff
- policy experts
- policymakers
