AYESHA RASCOE HOST:
Every day, headlines and news stories are filled with stories about the human tragedy caused by Russia’s war on Ukraine. In March, however, hundreds signed an open letter from international law and environmental experts warning of the dangers to Europe and Ukraine caused by the conflict. Carroll Muffett was one of the authors. He is the president and CEO at the Center for International Environmental Law and joins us to discuss how this aspect of war is unfolding.
Welcome.
CARROLL MOUFFETT: Thank You for Having Me.
RASCOE – So Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2012. What do we know now about the environmental consequences of the conflict?
MUFFETT – One of the most important things about the environmental effects of war is that they are human consequences. They can be very difficult to spot and can last for a long time. It is important to realize that the majority of conflict in eastern Ukraine has been caused by industrialization. This means that there are numerous chemical plants and petroleum refineries, and, as we’ve seen, Ukraine has many nuclear installations. These risks are huge.
We have seen fires at a nuclear plant. We have seen missiles and attacks on ammonia pipelines, and chemical plants, releasing highly toxic substances. Beyond this, the impact on agricultural lands is huge as unexploded ordnances and munitions build up on the cropland. We’ve seen military operations and attacks in protected areas and wildlife refuges.
RASCOE – The problem with war is that information can be very difficult to find. These instances are being tracked?
MUFFETT. Some non-profit efforts have been made to track that, but it is extremely difficult. It is important to remember that war can have serious environmental consequences. People who protect land or manage water safety infrastructure are often unable to do their jobs or are doing it in live-fire zones. We often find that the real environmental cost of war is only realized after the fact.
RASCOE – You mentioned nuclear reactors which are a big concern. Do you think that this is the most serious concern in the area of the environment?
MUFFETT: A disaster at one of the 15 reactors could cause significant damage to the surrounding area and Ukraine. This could also affect the larger European region. These effects can last from years to decades, as we saw in the Chernobyl catastrophe. This is one of the indirect effects of Russia’s invasion. The U.S. and Europe could simply replace Russian oil and natural gas supplies with new infrastructure that allows them to import oil from other countries. We can see that this will have a long-term affect on global climate change response.
RASCOE : In a time when there is war, the focus is always on those who are hiding in bomb shelters and running for their life. Many people are losing their lives. Why do you think it’s important that we focus on the environment? You seem to think that this is part of the human-caused damage.
MUFFETT – It is a part of the human damages. One way to look at this is that the environmental effects of war are simply human impacts that can continue long after the shells stop exploding and long after the bullets and guns cease. When we talk about the environment consequences of war, we really mean the effects of war on people and the places they live in a more prolonged and often more insidious way.
RASCOE. Carroll Muffett is the president and CEO at the Center for International Environmental Law. Thank you so much for speaking to us.
MUFFETT: We are very grateful.
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