New Delhi, June 4 -- Israel's 15-month war on Gaza has caused unprecedented loss of lives and infrastructure, and has also led to massive greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from direct war activities. The latter is estimated to be higher than what 36 countries and territories emit in an entire year, according to a report.

The findings of the study War on the Climate published by researchers from Queen Mary University of London, Lancaster University, and others are sobering. The war emitted a staggering 1.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) from direct combat activities alone.

When emissions from pre-war fortifications and anticipated post-war reconstruction are included, the total climbs to over 32.2 million tCO2e -surpas...