Global Community Must Act on Ukraine War’s Eco Impact, Swiss Director Says
Swiss documentary filmmaker Yves Maga has called for stronger global awareness of the environmental destruction caused by Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine.
The Gaze reports this, referring to Ukrinform.
During the Eco Film Festival by Chysto.de?!, held in western Ukraine’s Zakarpattia region, Maga emphasized that war-related environmental consequences are a global issue and must be treated as such.
“People outside Ukraine must realize that environmental harm caused by war transcends borders. A threat to nature in one place is a threat to everyone, and it has implications for the entire continent, even the planet,” Maga said.
He highlighted recent examples of global environmental interconnection. Maga recalled how smoke from Canadian wildfires turned the skies grey over Switzerland and how Saharan dust frequently settles on Alpine glaciers.
The filmmaker drew parallels with past disasters, particularly the 1986 Chornobyl nuclear accident, which had long-lasting consequences across Europe.
Maga believes that Russia must eventually be held accountable for the ecological damage it has inflicted on Ukraine. While he acknowledged that reparations should ideally come from the aggressor, he insisted the international community has a responsibility to get involved in post-war environmental recovery.
The director also urged Ukrainians to speak more openly about the ecological consequences of war when engaging with international audiences, particularly in the EU and the United States, as well as with diplomats, journalists, environmental advocates, and organizations like Greenpeace and the WWF.
“In Europe, there’s a lot of focus on Ukrainian refugees, which is important. But I’m convinced the environmental impact of the war must receive more attention too,” Maga said.
The Eco Film Festival by Chysto.de?!, held from August 1 to 3, featured films from Ukraine and abroad exploring environmental themes, ranging from local pollution to global climate concerns.
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