International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict   |07 November 2023

Recognising the environmental victims of war

In the throes of war, human casualties and property damages often dominate headlines. Yet, overshadowed by these tragedies, the environment silently bears the brunt of conflicts, suffering damages that can last generations. From polluted water sources to the destruction of forests and wildlife, the environment has been an unsung casualty in the theater of war. Today, the United Nations brings this issue to the forefront as it commemorates the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict.

Historical records reveal unsettling patterns. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) discovered that almost half of the internal conflicts in the past six decades have ties to natural resource exploitation. Whether driven by high-value resources like gold, timber and oil or by essentials such as fertile land and water, these conflicts exhibit a heightened risk of recurring.

The United Nations emphasises the necessity of integrating environmental action into conflict prevention, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding strategies. As highlighted by the organisation, “there can be no durable peace if the natural resources that sustain livelihoods and ecosystems are destroyed”.

Established on November 5, 2001 by the UN General Assembly, the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict serves as an annual reminder of our collective responsibility. In 2016, a resolution by the United Nations Environment Assembly further underscored the role of healthy ecosystems in reducing conflict risks and cemented the organisation's commitment to the sustainable development goals, encapsulated in the ‘2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’.

Several impactful partnerships have emerged to address these concerns:

• EU-UN Partnership on Land and Natural Resource Conflicts: A coalition of six UN entities have teamed up with the European Union to guide countries in identifying, preventing, and transforming resource-driven tensions as a part of their peacebuilding efforts.
• Global Research Programme on Post-Conflict Peacebuilding and Natural Resources: A collaborative effort between the Environmental Law Institute, UNEP, and the Universities of Tokyo and McGill seeks to gather insights on post-conflict peacebuilding centered on natural resources. The initiative has amassed over 150 peer-reviewed case studies, presenting invaluable lessons in resource management during post-conflict periods.
• UN Partnership on Women and Natural Resources in Peacebuilding Settings: Institutions including UNEP, UN Women, UNDP, and PBSO have joined hands to delve deeper into the intricate relationship between women and natural resources in areas affected by conflict. Their joint policy report, released in 2013, sheds light on the significance of gender equality, women’s empowerment, and sustainable resource management in peacebuilding endeavours.

As global citizens, today serves as a reminder that in the pursuit of peace, we must also safeguard our environment. Protecting it is not just an ecological responsibility but a critical step towards a lasting, harmonious future.

Compiled by Sunny Esparon