The cost of ‘conflict carbon’: Russia faces €37 billion climate reparations bill for war in Ukraine

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🗞️ Driving the news: Russia is facing €37 billion in climate reparations for the environmental damage caused by its invasion of Ukraine
• The damage has been calculated to be equivalent to 236.8 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, and Ukraine is set to make its compensation claim through the Register of Damage for Ukraine, which will start accepting climate claims in early 2026
• This would mark the first case of climate reparations linked to warfare, setting a significant precedent for accountability

🔭 The context: "Conflict carbon" is being attributed to the war’s environmental toll, with the burning of fuel, destruction of forests, and destruction of infrastructure leading to significant emissions
• Ukraine’s forests, home to one-third of European biodiversity, have been heavily impacted, with over 3 million hectares damaged
• The report by the Initiative on Greenhouse Gas Accounting of War (IGGAW) documents the emissions and environmental damage caused by both sides of the conflict
• The move to hold Russia accountable is backed by a historic ruling from the International Court of Justice, affirming that access to a clean and healthy environment is a human right

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The demand for reparations highlights the growing recognition that climate damage caused by war must be addressed
• As nations face mounting climate crises, this initiative could set a global precedent for how to account for and address environmental harm caused by military conflicts
• It challenges the longstanding assumption that war-related environmental destruction is unaccountable, and could spur future discussions on the intersection of warfare and climate responsibility

⏭️ What’s next: Ukraine will submit its compensation claim to the Council of Europe in early 2026, with the mechanism for reparations already established through the Register of Damage for Ukraine
• This development could influence future international legal frameworks and policies on state responsibility for climate damage caused by war
• The international community will be watching closely as this landmark case unfolds and sets a global precedent

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