The Environmental Cost of War in Gaza

Lucile Dudrey-Harvey on 1 March 2025

Our environment is often an overlooked casualty of war. However, the severe waste contamination in Gaza—resulting from infrastructure collapse and military violence over the past 15 months—has shone a harsh light on the undeniable impact of conflict on our fragile ecosystem.

UN reports have stated approximately 97% of Gaza’s water is undrinkable due to the destruction of infrastructure, primarily the breakdown of sewage and waste management facilities. This has resulted in the accumulation of 39 million tonnes of debris and contamination of irrigation systems, leading to the death of livestock such as goats and cattle, as well as financially depleting the fishing and agriculture sector. Consequently, food security for the human population has decreased and the environment has faced extreme loss of natural habitats and contamination of air, soil and water. Gaza’s Mediterranean coast, a vibrant rich ecosystem teeming with coral reefs and hundreds of species of fish, has been made a hostile environment through underwater explosions and oil spills. 

Satellite images further reveal that around 80% of Gaza’s trees have been lost, while two-thirds of its farmlands have been damaged or destroyed by military bombardment—an ecological catastrophe that accelerates desertification and reduces carbon absorption. Such evidence underscores that, as with all environmental crises, the repercussions of this war extend far beyond Gaza. Every ecosystem plays a crucial role in maintaining our atmosphere and mitigating global warming, and it is important to consider the immense wealth this Mediterranean territory provides. 

This large-scale environmental degradation not only affects land and water resources but also threatens the region’s rich biodiversity. Palestine is characterised by its highly diverse topography, home to around 50,000 living species, constituting 3% of global biodiversity. In Gaza, direct bombings and pollution have inflicted severe damage on coastal areas, which provides vital feeding grounds to native migratory birds such as the turtle dove; a once abundant symbol of peace that is now tragically facing endangerment. 

Other animals, such as the Palestine sunbird and Arabian gazelle, have been pushed closer to extinction, while experts estimate a 40% decline in biodiversity since the 2000s, affecting countless more species. However, there is still the possibility of recovering these numbers, especially in light of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas enacted on January 19th 2025, which provides a window for environmental justice in this war torn area. The relief from bombardement will reduce further loss of habitat areas and fatality of wildlife through injury, although even with this respite, we can expect the consequences of contamination and pollution to have much longer lasting effects. 

As with most climate crises, it can be tempting to label the situation as hopeless. However, doing so would underestimate the humanitarian support that continues to exist in Gaza, even after more than 50 years of occupation. In 2022, for the first time in over a decade, Palestenians were able to swim in the ocean during the summer thanks to a community-led beach clean up and years of lobbying for improved sewage systems. More recently, even amid ongoing conflict, Gaza witnessed the installation of a desalination plant by the UAE in December 2023, providing 4.5 million liters of clean water. In March 2024, additional water pumping facilities were introduced, supplying clean water to over 200,000 residents in northern Gaza.

These efforts align with broader environmental commitments, such as Palestine’s participation in the Paris Agreement, which signals a long-term ambition to mitigate ecological harm. We can hope to see aims in reducing the environmental impact with projects such as replanting or soil decontamination. However, such processes are long and costly, often relying on charity aid and local involvement, which is further impeded by the fact many are facing tragic loss, medical issues or are suffering due to the lack of food and shelter. 

Human and environmental crises are deeply connected—one cannot be addressed without the other. Only through awareness and collective action can one expect to see the restoration of both Gaza’s environment and the lives that depend on it.

Words by Lucile Dudrey-Harvey

The Microtrend Menace: How to Purchase Mindfully

Alex Halkyard on 8 February 2025

With spring arriving and the season of new beginnings, it’s common to crave a wardrobe refresh to help with the seasonal transition. But, this change also brings a wave of overconsumption, encouraged by the latest cosy trends and collections marketed by retailers. I should preface this article by saying that I love, love, love clothes but, as we all know, consumerism is detrimental to the environment. Also, what student actually has the spare money or wardrobe space for it all? So, here are some of my top tips for purchasing mindfully. 

I love to declutter my wardrobe at the beginning of a new season. This reminds me of what clothes I already have and how I may not actually need to do any more shopping. Normally, I take everything out of my wardrobe and assess two things: when did I last wear this and how well does it fit me? The first question is, in my experience, less of a dealbreaker. I always end up keeping things just in case they’ll come in handy one day—cue my primary school Wonder Woman costume that made a reappearance this Halloween. However, it’s also important to self-reflect and realise that if I haven’t reached for a wearable, everyday t-shirt in the past year, it’s time to say goodbye. As Marie Kondo says, if it doesn’t spark joy, then it’s got to go. 

Most importantly, if a piece of clothing doesn’t fit right, I know that I’ll never wear it as I simply don’t feel comfortable or confident. It takes a lot of effort to try on everything, so work in sections, starting with tops, then jumpers, trousers etc. to streamline the process. At the end of this process, I’ll (heartbreakingly) have a pile of clothes ready to be rehomed. I’d recommend sorting these into three piles. Anything that’s a bit grubby or damaged, take to a textiles recycling point. Anything that’s branded and could be worth a little something, upload onto a second-hand app. Anything that falls in between, drop off at your local charity shop. 

Now that you’ve tackled your current wardrobe, here are some reflective tips to help satisfy that shopping itch. My golden rule when shopping nowadays is to always pause, considering how much I truly love something and how well it fits, instead of feeling rushed to decide. Sometimes in a changing room, I’ll try something on and immediately feel excited, undoubtedly knowing it’s coming home with me. Other times though, I’ll feel unsure and ask for a friend’s opinion. Yet, this conflict probably means I’ll regret buying it once home, so I take this as a sign to put it back on the rack. 

Next up, invest in timeless pieces for you. Now, I’m not necessarily suggesting to only buy basics and build a generic, yet timeless, capsule wardrobe. I find that this approach only works for people with minimalistic and neutral styles. What I mean is that while it’s fun to look at current trends for style inspiration, don’t be a sheep. Instead, consider how this trending item could integrate into your existing wardrobe—as not every single trend is going to align with your personal style. 

The nature of microtrends means that they’re already over by the time they’ve started. This ultimately results in manufacturers chasing trends just as fast as consumers and producing unprecedented levels of textile waste. Trends used to be determined by monthly fashion magazine issues and fashion houses’ seasonal collections. Now, social media has diminished this exclusive top-down hierarchy. The virality and hypervisibility available to social media influencers means that it’s no longer just the fashion elite determining trends. Here, the additional short attention span of today’s population, in turn with the fickleness of social media, has only resulted in even shorter trend lifespans. Thus, the microtrend menace was born. 

My point here is to give yourself time. Rather than immediately jumping on a new trend, buying something on a whim or getting sucked into the fleeting bargain of a sale, give yourself time. The time to reflect on what similar items you already own, how easily an item will work with your pre-existing wardrobe, and how much you truly like it, nay love it! Following some of these tips can help not only your wallet but also the Earth, in preventing overconsumption. Then, if after all of that, you’re still thinking about that funky jacket you saw, then go forth and treat yourself. 

Beaver-Works

Rosie Bibby on 26 October 2023

Beavers have been extinct in the UK since the 1500s due to human exploitation for their meat and fur, as well as a substance called castoreum. The castoreum, secreted by glands near the anus, can be used in food, perfumes, and medicine, and is in high demand, especially in Sweden where it is used to flavour schnapps, a traditional distilled liquor.

The eradication of beavers has negatively impacted the British ecosystem due to their position as a keystone species – one of particular importance to maintaining a balanced ecosystem. As ecosystem engineers, beavers create wetland habitats for animals such as water voles, frogs and insects by using branches of trees they’ve felled to build a dam. Encouraging a home for small animals thus attracts larger predators, enhancing broader diversity in the area. Therefore, recent efforts have been made to reintroduce them throughout the UK supported by the RSPB, Forestry England and Scottish National Heritage.

The first European beavers were reintroduced in Scotland’s Knapdale forest in 2008. The benefits to biodiversity were clear, with an increase in dragonfly, minnow, and beetle species recorded in the 2015 ‘Beavers in Scotland’ report. This encouraged further reintroductions in Devon later in the same year, controlled by the River Otter Beaver Trial. Again, positive responses were recorded and in 2020, the government agreed that the beavers should stay.

Since then, there has been work on reintroducing beavers in Cropton Forest within the North York Moors. The main reason for beaver presence this time, however, was for flood prevention. The beaver’s dam building can alter the flow of rivers by creating pools and wetlands, significantly slowing the river’s flow and protecting humans living downstream from flooding.

Since 2019, the two beavers introduced in Yorkshire have had six kits and are now a family of eight, they certainly have been beavering away! After a trial of five years, the flood alleviating powers of the beavers will be studied and, if deemed successful, steps will be taken to reintroduce beavers in other high flood risk areas.

Student Rebellion Occupy Campus Buildings

Archie Herrod Robinson on 1 December 2022

The environmental activist group Student Rebellion occupied multiple buildings on campus, demanding the University cuts all ties with fossil fuels. 

This began on Monday 7th November with the occupation of a lecture theatre in the Esther Simpson building. Following this, a second occupation began on Friday 11th November in the Marjorie and Arnold Ziff building, which houses management offices. 

From 8:30 a.m. on 7th November, Student Rebellion have occupied LG.08. On Monday, this meant students could not enter the lecture theatre for a 9 a.m. business lecture on consumption habits. There was a tense atmosphere in the foyer of the building, as students were refused entry to their lecture. This led to the lecture being moved online as a solution. One student whose lecture was moved online following the action told The Gryphon “They should have gone somewhere else where there are people that make decisions, not here this is just an inconvenience”. 

With Student Rebellion currently refusing to leave, there was an ongoing standoff between the activists and campus security services, with the protesters insisting the occupation will continue until their demands are met. The group has received a letter from the University threatening possible eviction of students under a possession order. The letter also outlines the prospect of disciplinary action for those involved as well as compensation for legal costs.

Student Rebellion demands three things from the University. Firstly, that it bans investments in oil, gas, coal, and mining companies. Secondly, the creation and implementation of an ethical careers policy. Finally, the refusal of all funding from all oil, gas, coal, and mining companies. These demands were articulated in an open letter to the Vice-Chancellor, Simone Buitendjik, inviting the University management to meet with them inside the occupied lecture theatre. There was no meeting between Student Rebellion and the University management to discuss the occupation. 

The group used the lecture theatre for ‘alternative education’, holding a series of lectures, workshops, and film screenings on a range of issues including climate justice, direct action and decolonisation of the curriculum. An outdoor rally in support of the students took place on campus on Thursday evening. 

Speaking to The Gryphon on the day the occupation began, one of the protesters said: “Business as usual can’t continue. The University of Leeds needs to cut ties to fossil fuels. They don’t have an ethical careers policy which allows companies like Shell to come onto our campus and to careers fairs. We think that is absolutely unacceptable in an educational institution, so we are here until the University agrees to come and speak to us and cut all ties with fossil fuels”. 

Another member of Student Rebellion commented: “I am occupying this lecture theatre because I am terrified about the climate emergency. The University claims to be a world leading institution in climate research and innovation, yet when we try to speak out about their links to fossil fuels, we are ignored and threatened. It’s just so hypocritical.”

In response, a spokesperson for the University said: “The University of Leeds Climate Plan sets out the University’s targets, actions and investments to achieving net zero by 2030.  The scope of the plan covers our teaching and research and operational activities, and our staff and student community have been involved in its development and have key roles in its implementation.”

“In line with our Climate Plan, we are reorienting our research and teaching away from the fossil fuel sector. We continue to work with energy companies when the work aims to reduce carbon emissions or accelerate the transition to a low carbon future. Since 2019, our Climate Active investment strategy means we have had no investments in any company whose primary business is the extraction of fossil fuel, or which derives significant revenue from such extraction.”