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The world is preparing to rebuild Gaza but few are ready for the climate cost

November 6, 2025

The recent ceasefire in Gaza has revealed an environmental catastrophe that extends far beyond typical humanitarian concerns, with systematic destruction rendering the territory nearly uninhabitable. The conflict has obliterated critical infrastructure including wastewater treatment plants, agricultural land, and solar energy systems that Palestinians had developed despite years of blockade. The environmental damage includes poisoned aquifers, contaminated soil from toxic rubble and chemical weapons, and massive carbon emissions exceeding those of many vulnerable nations combined.

Who is affected

  • Over two million Palestinians in Gaza facing famine and environmental contamination
  • Humanitarian organizations attempting to deliver aid
  • Palestinians whose agricultural land, fishing fleets, and solar infrastructure were destroyed
  • Climate-vulnerable nations globally affected by the conflict's carbon emissions
  • Future generations who will face long-term soil, water, and air contamination

What action is being taken

  • Humanitarian organizations are scaling up operations to reach families facing famine
  • The world is turning its attention to rebuilding Gaza

Why it matters

  • This represents one of the most severe environmental disasters of the 21st century, going beyond typical war damage to constitute systematic ecocide that threatens to make Gaza permanently uninhabitable. The destruction of Gaza's aquifer, agricultural capacity, and independent energy systems undermines any possibility for Palestinian self-sufficiency. The environmental impact extends globally through massive carbon emissions and sets a dangerous precedent for using environmental destruction as a weapon of war. The catastrophe will have generational consequences through contaminated water, poisoned soil, and air quality issues, while reconstruction itself will create additional environmental burdens equivalent to a medium-sized country's annual carbon emissions.

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Global Voices