Iran war has already released a staggering amount of CO2 — and the destruction of schools, homes and buildings is the biggest source
By Sascha Pare
Published on March 24, 2026.
The first two weeks of the Iran war between the U.S., Israel and Iran have already released a significant amount of carbon dioxide (CO), according to a new analysis. The conflict, which involved over 6,000 targets in Iran, released almost 5.6 million tons of CO between Feb. 28 and March 14, 2026, faster than any other global carbon budget combined, according to the researchers. The biggest source of CO was the destruction of homes, schools, and buildings, which will need to be cleared and rebuilt after the war ends. Fuel used during combat and support operations also contributed to CO emissions. The findings were published by the Climate and Community Institute.
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