The UN has marked the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) highlighting the environment as a “silent victim” that is often overlooked.
6 November 2015 – The UN has marked the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) highlighting the environment as a “silent victim” that is often overlooked.
In a written message on the International Day, UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner noted the complex interactions between conflict and environmental exploitation, and called for better support for mediators, peacekeepers and development agencies involved in conflict recovery. In particular, he highlighted UNEP’s Environmental Cooperation for Peacebuilding programme, which has been in existence since 2008, and has conducted over 20 post-conflict environmental assessments to provide impartial scientific and technical information in support of the recovery process.
In a press release, UNEP mentioned several ways in which war and conflict can have both environmental causes and impacts, mentioning: conflict over natural resources, creation of “environmental refugees” as people are displaced, and use of the environment as a weapon of war. Examples of environmental impacts occurring as a result of war and conflict include air pollution, deforestation, lack of waste management, degradation of protected areas and biodiversity, and a breakdown of environmental governance structures. UNEP also highlighted the relevance of its current work in this area to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 on building peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice and building effective institutions.
The UN Regional Information Centre for Western Europe (UNRIC) noted that, over the past 60 years, at least 40% of internal conflicts have had a link to natural resources.
UNEP has created an online knowledge platform and community of practice on the topic of environmental peacebuilding.
The UN General Assembly (UNGA) established the International Day on 5 November 2001, through resolution A/RES/56/4. [UNEP Press Release] [UNRIC Press Release] [Statement by UNEP Executive Director] [Environmental Peacebuilding Knowledge Platform]