War Fuels Ecocide: How Militarism Drives Environmental Destruction

By Kaya Mark

If you asked most people how they feel about war, the odds are they would say war is bad. Yet, when we talk about the military, 60% of Americans* say it has a positive effect. Adults under 30 are the only age group in which a larger share of people say the military has a more negative impact than a positive one (53% compared to 43%). Where does our perception of the military stem from?

The military-industrial complex, a term that President Eisenhower famously introduced to the American public in 1961, refers to the relationship between the military and the defense industry, and their influence on the United States’ highly militarized society. The U.S. is the largest military spender in the world, spending over $800 billion in 2023 alone. This is roughly the equivalent of $2000 per American. U.S. defense is expected to reach 1.07 trillion dollars by 2034. Unlike the wars happening in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and Myanmar, the United States is not independently involved in any active, armed conflicts. So why does the Pentagon’s budget comprise of over half our federal discretionary budget?

Some argue war is costly, and I would agree. Not only is the mass genocide of human life atrocious, but all life suffers its consequences; the environmental impact of war is “indiscriminate and far-reaching,” and impacts future generations, as well as current ones. Militaries clear forests and vegetation for training purposes and actively during war to force local populations to leave. Military lands cover between 1–6% of the globe’s land surface.

We cannot ignore militarism and its effects on the environment. Military activities and trainings create emissions, disrupt landscapes and marine habitats, create air, soil, light, and noise pollution, and more. The physical disruption to natural environments impacts local habitats and their inhabitants–– both human and non-human. Unsurprisingly, according to a 2018 study, wildlife populations are more stable during peacetime and decline during war.

Some argue environmental destruction is an “explicit military tactic.” During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military sprayed chemicals and bombed areas to deny cover and land to opposition forces. For nearly a decade, U.S. military forces sprayed nearly 19 million gallons of herbicides (often called Agent Orange) in Vietnam. Today, both Vietnam and its people suffer the devastating consequences of Agent Orange: cancer; birth defects; soil, water, and air pollution, and more. Ecocide, a term popularized during the Vietnam War, is used to describe the intentional, unlawful destruction of the natural environment by deliberate or negligent human action. With ecocide, there is a substantial likelihood of severe and/or long-term damage to the environment, such as those seen with Agent Orange and the U.S. military’s use of chemical weapons.

Similar tactics have been and are still used by militaries throughout the globe. Ukraine accused Russia of using white phosphorus and riot control agents during the war. Video footage shows Israeli military firing white phosphorus-filled artillery in Gaza and Lebanon. The U.S.’s previous use of nuclear devices in the Marshall Islands and atomic bombs during World War II also resulted in major environmental and human damages. The use of “modern machine guns, heavy artillery, and chemical weapons” has major impacts on the environment. Among the most cited environmental effects of war include deforestation, soil erosion, and biodiversity loss.

In addition, military emissions contribute to nearly 5.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions––double the amount coming from aviation and shipping. War fuels the climate crisis and gas (and other dirty fossil fuels) fuel war. In 2023, the DOD distributed 79.5 million barrels of oil––valued at $13.3 billion––to the U.S. military defenses and its contractors.

The environmental damage post-war also brings huge devastation to communities and the environment. The war in Gaza has already cost over $56.4 billion in damage to the environment, with costs to clear landmines and unexploded ordnance expected to eventually cost $34.6 billion. Today, 40 million tons of rubble, including human remains, asbestos, and other hazardous materials and unexploded ordnance flood Gaza’s landscape.

I’m not sharing this to state the obvious: war is bad, but rather to call attention to the need to demilitarize. The United States cannot ignore the devastating effects of militarism, both within our own country and throughout the globe. Various movies and television shows continue to romanticize the military, causing Americans to believe militarization is necessary. Yet, movies like Top Gun are often funded by the Pentagon as pro-military propaganda. What they don’t show are the devastating aftermaths of war, the environmental consequences of military action, and the long-lasting contributions to the climate crises and our environment. When we romanticize the military, we do a disservice to our country and to the future generations that will continue after us. It’s time to demilitarize our nation and recognize that war fuels ecocide.

*Please note that I use the term Americans to describe North American people residing in the United States.

All dollar amounts are in USD.