The vicious cycle between war and environmental issues

Apart from disastrous humanitarian consequences, wars also have disastrous consequences on the environment:

- Biodiversity is for example affected when the massive use of artillery in battlefields leads to fires that damage vegetation and put wildlife in danger. These fires can for instance burn tiny creatures such as insects, that are in a deep sleep called anabiosis, together with the plants

- Pollution is caused for example when oil and fuel spills from damaged equipment and leaks into the ground, threatening wildlife, both on land and in waterways

- Climate change is fueled for example when waste management systems are disturbed, and for instance organic waste is burned in the open air instead of being disposed of properly

Sadly, these environmental issues can result in a vicious cycle, as environmental issues can in turn trigger war.

Learn more in this article:
English version: https://www.erlijn.nl/link/scicomm.php?l=79f933814f
German version: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/der-teufelskreis-zwischen-krieg-und-umweltprobleme-van-genuchten-95owe