War doesn’t just reshape borders and lives, it reshapes the planet itself. From the carbon footprint of military industries to the scorched landscapes left by conflict, the machinery of war is deeply entangled with the accelerating climate crisis. Militarism drives some of the world’s highest emissions, while the environmental devastation of conflict, poisoned water, razed ecosystems, displaced communities, undermines the very resilience needed to face a warming world. Understanding this intersection isn’t optional, it’s essential for any honest conversation about climate justice and the future we hope to build.
At Climate Commons, we believe that confronting the climate emergency requires looking squarely at every system that fuels it, including those often treated as untouchable. Our mission is to make the connections between war, militarism, and environmental harm visible, accessible, and grounded in evidence. We do this because climate justice cannot be separated from peace, human rights, or the protection of ecosystems. Naming these intersections is necessary if we hope to build a future where security is measured not by military strength, but by the health and stability of our shared planet.
Read the CCC Response to the Israel-Gaza Conflict
Read Emma Cantlon’s and Nir Hagigi’s, War is Warming the World Zine with References
War and Climate Reading Group
In order to learn more about the complex and urgent relationship between militarism and the climate crisis, Climate Commons is convening a reading group on the topic of War and Climate.
Upcoming Meeting:
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November 19: Nessie Nankivell’s short essay: “Military Minerals: Intensifying Extraction on Indigenous Lands,” published by the Transition Security Project; Frank Bidart’s 2020 poem: “At the Shore”; Cecilia Aldarondo’s 2020 documentary: Landfall
- 5:30PM at Irene’s Pub (885 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K1S 3W4)
Previous Meeting Notes:
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July 13, 2026 Meeting Notes: Andreas Malm’s The Destruction of Palestine is the Destruction of Earth
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August 24, 2026 Meeting Notes: Laleh Khalili’s Sinews of War and Trade
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October 23, 2026 Meeting Notes: Thea Riofrancos, Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism
War and Climate Reading Suggestions
Please submit potential suggestions for our next reading group meeting. Suggestions can be any work of fiction or non fiction and of different mediums.