New Delhi, June 23 -- Amid the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe of wars in Ukraine, Palestine, Iran, Russia and Israel, a long-term threat is brewing. As the countries bomb each other, destroying lives, critical infrastructure and often, energy plants, skies across the globe are choked with greenhouse gas emissions. Toxic chemicals pervade the layers of the Earth's atmosphere, its soils and water, creating an impact that may outlast most of the people witnessing or participating in the wars.

The global militaries contribute around 5.5 per cent of worldwide emissions, excluding the greenhouse gases generated from conflicts and warfare. This exceeds the total contribution combined of civilian aviation (2 per cent) and shipping (3 per cent)...