Is environmental degradation a greater threat to the international community than war?

This essay was a finalist at the 2024 Northeastern University London Essay Competition Awards

Environmental degradation and war are both critical issues that affect our contemporary geopolitical landscape, but the repercussions of each are felt in very different ways. Environmental degradation refers to the deterioration of the environment through the depletion of natural resources, destruction of ecosystems and societies, and pollution of water, soil, and air. War, on the other hand, is a state of armed conflict between different groups with political ideologies. It can be identified by extreme hostility and aggression, and usually involves the use of military force.

Environmental degradation is a greater threat to the international community than war. It is a multifaceted issue, which has a transnational impact and long term consequences. Climate change is one of the biggest causes of environmental degradation, and it refers to frequent changes in global temperatures and erratic weather conditions, which are a hazard to human health. Moreover, the ramifications of climate change extend beyond health concerns, impacting various aspects of society.

The disruption of ecosystems, loss of biodiversity, and rising sea levels are just a few of the many consequences that reverberate globally. The interconnected nature of our planet means that environmental challenges like climate change are not contained by geopolitical boundaries, emphasising the need for coordinated international efforts to address these issues effectively. According to the World Health Organisation, 3.6 billion people already live in areas highly susceptible to climate change (WHO, Climate Change, 2023), which highlights the global impact of this issue. Thus, making it increasingly dangerous, as it affects a vast majority of the population. This is supported by the WHO’s prediction that between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250 000 additional deaths per year.

Wars, on the other hand, are often confined to a specific region and are rarely on a global scale. According to the United Nation, 2 billion people live in places affected by violent conflicts (Nation, 2023) and while this may seem like a huge number, it is still much smaller than that of climate change. Thus, environmental degradation has a more widespread impact that can endanger the lives of people as it transcends national borders.

Further, environmental degradation has a much more long lasting impact than wars do. Damage to the environment is often irreversible, with loss of biodiversity, severe depletion of natural resources which are necessary for survival, and rapidly rising temperatures which leads to erratic and fluctuating weather conditions. Global warming is expected to cause a shift in the geographical distribution of climate zones. This can permanently alter the existence and distribution of various animal and plant species, a crisis further aggravated by loss of habitat, pollution and bad weather conditions. (Comsission, n.d.) The interconnectedness of ecosystems amplifies the consequences, as disruptions in one area can echo across the globe, affecting ecosystems and human societies alike. The world has seen a sharp rise in the number of droughts, floods and other extreme weather conditions due to climate change, which is a pressing concern for the future of our planet.

In contrast, wars may have more devastating and immediate impacts in terms of destruction of property, political changes and loss of human lives; however, the aftermath and long term effects are much more manageable than that of environmental degradation, which poses a persistent and escalating threat.

Environmental degradation also creates several humanitarian crises such as food and water shortages, increased vulnerability to natural disasters and population displacement. One such crisis is drought — water scarcity impacts 40% of the world’s population, and as many as 700 million people are at-risk of being displaced as a result of drought by 2030. (WHO, Drought, n.d.) Water being one of the main resources necessary for survival, the depletion of such a resource can create a devastating loss of human lives. Pollution serves as a huge threat to human health, with around 7 million people dying every year from exposure to particles in polluted air. (WHO, 2018) 9 out of 10 people breathe air containing pollutants which can penetrate deep into the lungs, causing various life threatening diseases such as heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and respiratory diseases like pneumonia. Pollution not only jeopardizes individual health but also poses a risk to entire populations, especially those in densely populated urban areas. Consequently, while war also has several humanitarian impacts such as violations of human rights and high death tolls, the impact felt by environmental degradation is far more worrisome as it is on a much larger scale.

Environmental degradation can also have several economic impacts. When the environment is harmed — in the form of pollution, deforestation, or damage to ecosystems — our economy is also affected. For instance, polluted air and water can make people sick, leading to higher healthcare costs. According to a report, in the United States, over $820 billion in health costs are spent each year due to the effects felt by climate change. (Thompson, 2021) Damage to ecosystems can hurt industries like agriculture and fishing, reducing the availability of resources and increasing prices for goods. Additionally, extreme weather events linked to environmental issues, such as hurricanes or droughts, can damage infrastructure and disrupt businesses, leading to financial losses. In essence, taking care of the environment is not just about nature; it’s also about maintaining a healthy and sustainable global economy. According to the World Economic Forum, climate could wipe off up to 18% of GDP off the worldwide economy by 2050 if global temperatures rise by 3.2°C. (World Economic Forum, n.d.) However, if climate change is curbed and a well below 2°C increase is maintained as stated by the Paris Climate agreement, this prediction reduces to just 4%.

Lastly, environmental degradation can exacerbate resource scarcity, and may on its own be a factor that inevitably leads to a war as it can create large scale conflicts over necessities like water, land and food. Environmental shocks can be particularly destabilising to areas with weak or ineffective governments that fail to address the problem efficiently. It can also serve to heighten political tensions between various social groups in a nation, drawing attention to disparities in resource access and distribution. The scarcity of vital resources becomes a catalyst for social unrest, setting the stage for conflicts that transcend borders and ideologies. Thus, the urgency to address environmental issues is not just an ecological imperative but a crucial step towards maintaining global peace and stability. In this balance between human activities and the natural world, the consequences of environmental degradation manifest as a contributor to even more damage in the form of war.

In the end, the fact remains that though war is capable of destroying every living being on the planet, it is a seemingly small threat in the face of the destruction of the entire planet as a whole. The fragility of our ecosystems and the irreversible consequences of environmental degradation highlight the importance of collaborative solutions to preserve our environment and Earth. The threats posed by environmental degradation loom larger over the international community than that of war. While armed conflicts can inflict immense suffering and upheaval, the enduring consequences of environmental degradation transcend borders, affecting all nations indiscriminately. Our shared planet is a fragile and interconnected system, where the ramifications of environmental damage are felt across economies, health, and overall well-being.