TABLE OF CONTENTS –
· Introduction
· History and background
· International Regulations
· Conclusion
Introduction
An important reminder of the terrible effects that wars and conflicts have on our world is provided by the yearly International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict on 6th November. Although the human cost of conflict frequently garners the most attention worldwide, the environmental cost is just as significant and extensive. The deliberate targeting of environmental resources is a common outcome of wars and armed conflicts. Communities are deprived of vital nutrition as a result of the frequent destruction or contamination of water sources, forests, and agricultural land.
History and background
The UN General Assembly on 5th November 2001, declared 6th November annually as the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict. The United Nations Environment Assembly on 27th May, 2016, adopted resolution UNEP/EA.2/Res.15. It recognised the role of healthy ecosystems and sustainably managed resources in reducing the risk of armed conflict.
Large areas of land can become unusable for decades when explosive weapons like landmines and cluster munitions are used. Toxic chemicals and trash that pollute the air, water, and soil have far-reaching effects on ecosystems and human health. Furthermore, by undermining environmental regulations and interfering with conservation efforts, conflicts can worsen environmental deterioration. Exploitation of natural resources, such as oil, minerals, and lumber, frequently intensifies and prolongs wars. Deforestation, soil erosion, and water pollution can result from illicit mining, oil drilling, and logging.
Conflict-related population relocation can also put more stress on the environment since people may seek safety in places with few resources. The effects of war on the environment are not just unintended results; they are frequently a purposeful strategy used to degrade enemies and seize territory. Combatants can deny their adversaries vital resources and impair their ability to recover by harming the environment. This tactic, referred to as "ecocide," has been applied in wars all over the world, resulting in environmental devastation and suffering for people.
International Regulations
International cooperation is essential to solving this urgent problem. To safeguard the environment during armed conflict, international law needs to be strengthened. Methods or tactics of warfare that have the potential to seriously harm the environment on a large scale over an extended period are prohibited under the 1977 Protocol I Additional to the Geneva Conventions. According to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (1998), wilful destruction of cities, towns, or villages, as well as destruction that is not warranted by military necessity, are considered war crimes. States are responsible for any harm their military operations create to the environment. In post-conflict areas, more funding is also required for environmental rehabilitation and restoration projects.
Conclusion
We can all do our part to shield the ecosystem from the destructive effects of conflict. We can help create a more sustainable and just future by promoting peace, helping environmental organisations, and increasing awareness. There is a chance to consider how peace, security, and environmental preservation are all intertwined on the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict. We can all work together to create a more sustainable and peaceful society if we acknowledge the terrible effects of conflict on the environment.
FURTHER READINGS
United Nations Environment Programme - https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/statements/preventing-exploitation-environment-war-and-armed-conflict
References
Raoul Wallenberg Institute - https://rwi.lu.se/blog/preventing-the-exploitation-of-the-environment/
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