In the aftermath of Israel’s devastating attacks on Lebanon, the country faces a dual crisis: the physical destruction of its cities and villages and the inevitable environmental disaster that threatens to make recovery more harmful than the war itself. As Lebanon begins the slow and challenging process of reconstruction, a deeper question arises: Will the reconstruction efforts prioritize the well-being of its people, heritage, and environment, or will they pave the way for further ecological degradation?
This report focuses on latest state decisions and approaches related to rubble removal and reveals a troubling reality: Lebanon’s efforts to remove rubble after the war are expected to be compromised by mismanagement, political corruption, and a lack of coordinated environmental governance. The reconstruction and recovery process has become intertwined with the interests of powerful cement monopolies, who will directly benefit from recent governmental decisions and increase production causing more environmental damage. Without a unified national strategy to manage rubble removal, Lebanon risks repeating past mistakes, where short-term economic benefits are prioritized over long-term, sustainable recovery practices.
At the heart of this crisis is the environmental toll of unsupervised construction, the exploitation of natural resources, and the absence of any meaningful policy. Without a shift toward sustainable, transparent, and people-centered policies, Lebanon’s reconstruction including the phase of rubble removal could result in the irreversible degradation of its landscapes, water sources, and cultural heritage.
This report calls for a fundamental change in how Lebanon approaches recovery, particularly rubble removal, urging policymakers, international donors, and local leaders to adopt practices that prioritize the environment, promote transparency, and ensure a sound social, economic and environmental post-war recovery.