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International Day for Preventing Environmental Exploitation in Conflict – Safeguarding Our Planet

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Context: On November 6th of every year, the United Nations observes the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict.

International Day for Preventing Environmental Exploitation in Conflict – Safeguarding Our Planet

Preserving Life, Promoting Peace: The International Day for Protecting the Environment in War Zones 

  • Awareness: Uniting for a Greener World in Times of Conflict
    • Collaborative Effort: The observance of this day raises awareness among governments, organisations, and the public about the environmental consequences of conflict. 
    • Multi-Stakeholder Approach: It encourages education and discussions about the importance of preventing the exploitation of the environment during war.
  • Environmental Protection: The Imperative of Environmental Preservation in Conflict Zones
    • Explains Interdynamics: It serves as a reminder that the natural world should not be a casualty of war and highlights the importance of preserving ecosystems and biodiversity.
  • Assess Humanitarian Impact: Fallout of Environmental Degradation in Conflict Zones
    • Severe Consequences: Environmental degradation in conflict zones can have severe consequences for civilian populations. 
    • Ensuring Global Responsibility: Contaminated water sources, food scarcity, and displacement due to environmental destruction can lead to humanitarian crises, making the protection of the environment a matter of human rights and well-being.
  • Build Legal Frameworks: Strengthening Environmental Accountability
    • Revisiting Protocols: The day raises awareness about international legal frameworks that govern the protection of the environment during armed conflicts, such as the 1977 Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions. 
  • Promoting Peace and Security through Environmental Conservation
    • Healthy Environment: A stable and healthy environment is integral to peace and security.
    • Encourage Conservation: Recognizing the significance of this day promotes the idea that environmental protection can contribute to conflict prevention and resolution.
  • Fostering Sustainable Development: Uniting for SDGs 15 and 16
    • Alignment with SDGs: The day aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) and Goal 15 (Life on Land).
  • Prevention of Environmental Harm: Toward Sustainable Military Practices
    • Minimising Military Impacts: The global community acknowledges the need to minimise environmental harm and incorporate environmentally responsible practices 
  • Environmental Rehabilitation: Restoring Ecosystems for Peace
    • Post-Conflict Rehabilitation: The day emphasises the importance of post-conflict environmental rehabilitation efforts, including demining, clearing unexploded ordnance, and restoring ecosystems.

Environmental Devastation in the Face of War: Global Case Studies

  • Israel-Gaza conflict: UNICEF reported that 96% of the water from Gaza’s aquifer are now unfit for human consumption and only a tenth of Gazans get direct access to safe water and children are the worst victims. 
  • Internal Armed Conflict in Africa: United Nations Environment Programme has found that over the last 60 years, at least 40% of all internal conflicts have been linked to the exploitation of natural resources, such as oil, coal, timber, gold, diamond or scarce resources such as fertile land and water.
  • Vietnam War: The Vietnam War had significant environmental implications, due to the chemical agents which destroyed a great part of forests and wildlife.
  • Gulf War: The oil fires that were deliberately started during the 1991 Gulf war in Iraq have caused terrible environmental degradation and have polluted vast areas in the region.
  • Afghanistan Crisis: In Afghanistan,wildlife and habitats have completely been destroyed including the precious native pistachio woodlands.

The Ecological Toll of Warfare: Understanding Environmental Degradation in Conflict Zones

  • Destruction of Ecosystems: 
    • Biodiversity Loss: Warfare can result in the destruction of natural ecosystems through bombing, shelling, and landmines. 
    • Long-Term Impact: These actions can lead to habitat loss and fragmentation, affecting plant and animal species.
  • Pollution: 
    • Contamination: Armed conflicts often lead to the release of various pollutants into the environment, including oil spills, chemical agents, and heavy metals. 
    • Health Risks: These pollutants can contaminate soil, water, and air, posing health risks to both humans and wildlife.
  • Deforestation: 
    • Military operations, such as the use of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War, have caused significant deforestation, leading to the loss of valuable forests and their ecological services.
  • Soil Degradation: 
    • The use of heavy machinery and the deployment of military vehicles can lead to soil compaction, erosion, and contamination, making it challenging for agriculture and ecosystem recovery.
  • Water Scarcity: 
    • Damage to water infrastructure, contamination of water sources, and the diversion of water for military purposes can lead to water scarcity, affecting both civilian populations and ecosystems.
  • Unexploded Ordnance: 
    • Unexploded landmines, cluster munitions, and other ordnance pose long-term hazards to both people and wildlife. 
    • These remnants of war can remain active for years after a conflict ends.
  • Climate Change: 
    • The burning of fossil fuels, destruction of forests, and industrial activities associated with war contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating climate change.
  • Human Health Impacts: 
    • Environmental damage caused by war can have direct health impacts on civilians and military personnel, as they may be exposed to pollutants, contaminated water, and hazardous materials.
  • Post-Conflict Cleanup: 
    • Environmental remediation and cleanup efforts in the aftermath of war are often costly and time-consuming, diverting resources from other critical needs.
  • Displacement of Environmental Refugees: 
    • As people flee conflict-affected areas, they may be forced to migrate to other regions, straining the natural resources and ecosystems of those areas.
  • UNEP Report:
    • According to the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), 40 percent of internal conflicts have been linked to the exploitation of natural resources in the last 60 years.

International Mechanism to Control Exploitation of Environment in War and Armed Conflict

  • Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols: The Geneva Conventions, provide the foundational principles of international humanitarian law. 
    • Special Provisions: The 1977 Additional Protocols I and II to the Geneva Conventions specifically address the protection of the environment during armed conflicts. 
    • Entrusting Responsibility: They prohibit the use of methods or means of warfare that cause widespread, long-term, and severe damage to the natural environment.
  • Hague Conventions: The Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907 include provisions related to the protection of cultural property during armed conflicts, which also relate to environmental protection.
  • Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC): The CWC prohibits the use of chemical weapons, which can cause severe environmental damage and long-term contamination. 
  • United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP): 
    • Awareness Programme: UNEP plays a role in raising awareness about the environmental impact of armed conflicts and supports post-conflict environmental recovery efforts. 
    • Post-Conflict Management: UNEP’s Post-Conflict and Disaster Management Branch works on assessing and addressing environmental issues in conflict-affected areas.
  • United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions: The UNSC has passed resolutions that address environmental protection in the context of conflict and peacekeeping operations. 
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Environmental Exploitation FAQs

On November 6th of every year, the United Nations observes the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict.

The resolution for declaring November 6 as International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict was passed by United Nations in 2001. It has been celebrated annually on 6th November since 2001.

UNICEF reported that 96% of the water from Gaza’s aquifer are now unfit for human consumption and only a tenth of Gazans get direct access to safe water and children are the worst victims.

The 1977 Additional Protocols I and II to the Geneva Conventions specifically address the protection of the environment during armed conflicts.

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