Antonio Guterres: We must choose people and planet over pain

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued an urgent appeal to protect the planet, warning that "chaos and uncertainty" are surrounding us, reports... EuronewsHe drew particular attention to the fact that global military spending rose to $2,7 trillion last year. As humanitarian crises and political tensions continue to escalate, that cost is expected to double, reaching $6,6 trillion by 2035.

"It is clear that the world has the resources to save lives, heal the planet, and secure a future of peace and justice. In 2026, I call on leaders everywhere to be serious. Choose people and planet over pain. This New Year, let us rise together. For justice. For humanity. For peace," Guterres said.

What can be achieved without military spending?

In September, at the request of UN member states, Guterres published a report titled "The True Cost of Peace," revealing the "huge imbalance" in global spending. It highlighted the trade-offs created by rising military spending, arguing that investing in peace is more important than ever.

The report finds that reinvesting just 15% of global military spending would be more than enough to cover the annual costs of climate change adaptation in developing countries. It also warns that every dollar spent on military purposes generates more than twice as many greenhouse gas emissions as a dollar invested in civilian sectors.

Spending $1 billion on military purposes creates about 11,200 jobs, but the same amount of money could create 16,800 jobs in the clean energy sector, 26,700 jobs in education, or 17,200 jobs in healthcare.

Less than 4% of the $2,7 trillion needed annually to end world hunger by 2030, while just over 10% could fully vaccinate every child in the world.

Ecological cost of military conflicts

War is often called one of the world's "biggest polluters," with emissions generated not only by fuel-guzzling planes and tanks but also by the efforts required to clean up and repair the damage after wars.

According to the War on Climate, a campaign group that advocates for the inclusion of military emissions in global climate agreements, the war between Israel and Gaza has produced 32,2 million tons of CO₂ equivalent in just 15 months.

A 2022 study by Scientists for Global Responsibility and the Observatory on Conflict and the Environment estimates that the military is responsible for about 5,5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with armed conflicts emitting more CO₂ than most countries.

However, the military is largely excluded from mandatory reporting under global climate agreements. In fact, the EU leaves around 82% of its military emissions undeclared and plans to increase its defense spending by €100 billion by 2027.

That is why in recent years there has been a growing demand for revealing the ecological cost of conflicts.

"Europe cannot claim climate leadership while its military emissions remain opaque," ​​said Dr. Soroush Abolfati, associate professor at the University of Warwick and part of the War on Climate.

In November, it was revealed that the Russian invasion of Ukraine had so far created emissions equivalent to 236,8 million tonnes of CO₂.

Around three million hectares of Ukrainian forests have also been destroyed or damaged by the war, reducing their capacity to absorb greenhouse gases by 1,7 million tonnes per year. Despite covering less than 6% of the continent's land area, Ukraine is home to a third of Europe's biodiversity.

The Initiative for Greenhouse Gas Accounting from War (IGGAW) found that military forces on both sides used 18 million tons of fuel and set fire to 1,3 million hectares of fields and forests.

Hundreds of oil and gas facilities have also been destroyed, and "huge quantities" of steel and cement have been ordered to reinforce the front lines. The emissions are equivalent to the annual emissions of Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia combined.