The long-term threats to human life, such as climate change, are irrelevant when people are being killed in the ongoing war in Gaza, according to an official from the “State of Palestine” pavilion at the COP28 climate conference.
The Negative Impacts of War on Palestinians
The pavilion is raising awareness of the most urgent issue for Palestinians – the Israeli war against Hamas, which has resulted in the deaths of over 17,000 people in Gaza, mostly children. The fighting has also displaced about 90 percent of the 2.3 million inhabitants of Gaza.
The Ongoing Effects of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Although both sides have fought many wars over the decades leading up to 2023, the conflict escalated on October 7 after Hamas fighters killed 1,200 people inside Israeli territory and took over 200 hostages into Gaza, with some being released since the onset of the Israeli attack.
The Impact of War on Climate Change
Ahmad Abu Taher, the director responsible for projects and international relations at the Environmental Quality Authority in the Palestinian territories, stated that if the war in Gaza were happening anywhere else, the international response would be “very different” from the current reality in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.
The Environmental Impacts of War and Climate Change
War is considered one of the major factors contributing to climate change. The United Nations Framework for Climate Change has previously reported that the opposite is also true – climate change can contribute to increased indirect conflict, with the displacement of populations being among the biggest concerns.
Pro-Palestinian Protests at COP28
The war has overshadowed the climate conference with numerous protests taking place in the blue zone – an area managed by the United Nations for meetings and negotiations, governed by UN laws, allowing protests with prior approval.
The Impact of War on Children and the Environment
Although the effects of war are the most severe, the role of climate change in impacting health, agriculture, and water systems in the territories remains significant. Children are considered the most vulnerable, according to a UNICEF report from 2023.
War and climate change may be different issues, but they significantly affect the lives of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. It is important to focus on resolving the conflict and achieving peace to ensure positive climate change and protect human rights for everyone.
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