International Day for the Prevention of Exploitation of the Environment in Time of War and Armed Conflict (06/11)

In November 2001, the UN General Assembly announced (resolution 56/4) that the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict is celebrated annually on November 6.

In making this decision, the UN took into account that damage caused to the environment during armed conflicts leads to the deterioration of ecosystems and natural resources for a long period after the end of conflicts and often affects not only one state and not only the current generation.

War, whatever its causes, brings indescribable horrors to civilians and can, within minutes, destroy what has sometimes been created by generations. In addition to the human suffering that war causes, it also leads to environmental destruction.

Humanity has always counted military losses in terms of the number of killed and wounded soldiers and civilians, destroyed cities and infrastructure, and the environment remained a quiet and invisible victim of war. To win the war, wells were filled in, crops were burned, forests were cut down, lands were destroyed and livestock were slaughtered.

In addition, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has found that over the past 60 years, at least 40% of all internal conflicts have involved the exploitation of natural resources, whether valuable resources such as timber, diamonds, gold and oil, or scarce resources such as fertile land and water. Natural resource conflicts were also found to be twice as likely as others to recur.

The International Day for the Prevention of Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict was established by the UN General Assembly to highlight the environmental consequences of war and the importance of avoiding both exploitation and wanton damage to ecosystems in an effort to achieve military goals.

Sometimes such damage cannot be avoided. However, it could often be avoided if little concern or caution were shown.

Parties involved in hostilities are responsible for compliance with international norms and agreements, such as the Geneva Conventions, which govern the conduct of war. Some of the regulations, such as the prohibition of deliberate destruction of agricultural land, have an environmental focus.

However, in general, the environmental consequences of war are ignored by modern laws. The time has come to review international agreements related to wars and armed conflicts in order to ensure stable environmental protection, so that agreements also cover issues not only of intentional but also of unintentional damage to the environment.

The UN attaches great importance to ensuring that environmental activities become part of conflict prevention efforts, peacebuilding strategies and peacekeeping — because there can be no lasting and sustainable peace where natural resources that ensure adequate living standards and adequate functioning ecosystems, damaged or destroyed.



Postcard November «6 — International Day for the Prevention of Exploitation of the Environment in Time of War and Armed Conflict»

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