PRAGUE/DNIPRO - A study by the NGO Arnika and World from Space based on satellite images from the European Space Agency (1) has reached a surprising conclusion. Although war destroys human lives and devastates the environment, the long-term air quality has paradoxically improved. The study concludes that the continuous operation of obsolete coal-fired power stations, smelters and chemical plants before the Russian invasion caused more pollution than the explosions and fires during the war (2).
Download the study "Air pollution in Ukraine as seen from space: the effects of the war"
“In no way do we want to downplay the catastrophic impact of the war on the lives of Ukrainians and the environmental damage it causes,” says Jan Labohy, head of the World from Space research team. “However, remote sensing images of the Earth show that the war is having more of a local impact in specific locations of explosions and fires. Previously, we saw a continuous layer of pollution with significant values over the industrial areas of Kryvbas and Donbas, even across Europe (3). Since the February invasion, however, there has been a significant decrease in overall air pollution, most likely due to the closure or suspension of most industrial facilities and the displacement of the population,” he adds.
According to Marcela Cernochova from Arnika, the study confirmed that the operation of outdated technologies in heavy industry is a major threat to human health and the environment. “In the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine, it is essential to exclude investments in technologies that will not meet the technical and environmental standards of the European Union. The people of Ukraine do not deserve to see industrial concerns making money at the expense of their health,” she says.
Oleksiy Angurets of the Ukrainian NGO Green World points out that using methods other than remote sensing from space to describe the true extent of war damage is important. “While air pollution is only affected by explosions for a limited period of time, we are concerned about the significant contamination of agricultural land and drinking water sources. As the war is still ongoing, detailed research is only possible to a limited extent,” says the expert, who is preparing analyses of some sites in cooperation with Czech researchers.
“Arnika is launching a project this year to map the impact of the war on the Ukrainian environment,” explains Marcela Cernochova. “The study on air pollution is only the first of a series of analyses we must carry out. The results of our work will then help identify priority sites for remediation and protect the health of people who still live there or plan to return after liberation,” she added. Arnika has been working in Ukraine since 2017 thanks to the support of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs Transformation Cooperation Programme and involves several local organizations and experts in its activities. A study working with satellite-based pollution mapping of the pre-war situation was published by Arnika back in 2020.
Contact:
Martin Zelinka (Arnika) – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +420 720 208 217
Notes:
(1) The study "Air pollution in Ukraine as seen from space: the effects of the war"
(2) The main conclusions of the study:
- The average nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentration on the territory of Ukraine during the study period during the ongoing war conflict (02-11/2022) decreased to 0.259 10-4 mol/m2, which represents a reduction of almost 10% compared to pre-war values.
- The decrease in NO2 concentration is most likely due to the significant reduction in economic activities in the areas and the closure or significant reduction in the operation of large industrial enterprises.
- The most significant decreases in absolute terms were observed in Kiev and in the eastern industrial agglomerations (Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Dnipro and Zaporozhye).
- The highest percentage difference in values when comparing NO2 concentrations before the outbreak and during the war was found in the vicinity of large cities such as Kiev, Kriviy Rih, Zaporozhye (more than 30% lower).
- The average NO2 concentration in the pre-war period was 0.286 10-4 mol/m2. The highest values were recorded near large cities and in industrial areas (Kyiv, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv).
- Official air quality monitoring is almost non-existent in Ukraine. Basically, the only sources of information are citizen monitoring networks (e.g. EcoCity) or sporadic regional centres (e.g. Dnipro Environmental Monitoring Center).
(3) The 2020 study 'Air Pollution in Ukraine from space
(4) The environmental impacts of the war were summarised by experts at online conference 'The Environmental Consequences of the Russian War in Ukraine: together for the future recovery of the Ukrainian Environment'
