New Delhi: International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict is observed every year on November 6. It is a United Nations (UN)-designated day. It is marked to raise awareness about how not only humanity suffers from war, but the environment also suffers. The day was created to protect the environment as a warrantor of peace and security. It also protects the environment’s exploitation in military conflicts.
Seas, rivers, and wells are polluted during wars, and crops and forests are cut down. The natural world is affected by armed conflicts and war in some way or another.
On the occasion of International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, let us learn about the day’s origins and purpose.
Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict: When was the day started?
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has since written about this observance: “We must use all of the tools at our disposal, from dialogue and mediation to preventive diplomacy, to keep the unsustainable exploitation of natural resources from fueling and financing armed conflict and destabilising the fragile foundations of peace.”
Humanity has always counted war casualties in terms of dead and injured soldiers and civilians, and the environment suffers silently. Wars harm the environment by polluting water wells, burning crops, cutting down forests, poisoning soils, and killing animals for military gain.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in the last 60 years, at least 40 per cent of internal conflicts have been linked to the misuse of natural resources. This includes valuable resources like timber, diamonds, gold, and oil, as well as scarce resources like fertile land and water. Conflicts over natural resources are also twice as likely to happen again.
The United Nations believes it is vital to include environmental action in efforts to prevent conflict, maintain peace, and build sustainable communities. Lasting peace is impossible if the natural resources supporting livelihoods and ecosystems are destroyed.
On November 5, 2001, the UN General Assembly declared November 6 each year the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict.
On May 27, 2016, the United Nations Environment Assembly adopted a resolution recognising that healthy ecosystems and sustainable resources can help lower the risk of armed conflict.
It reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to fully implement the Sustainable Development Goals in the resolution titled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
What is the purpose of Environment in War and Armed Conflict Day?
This vision does two things:
First, it helps resolve disputes over valuable or rare natural resources like gold, oil, timber, or diamonds.
Second, the UN focuses on reducing the environmental damage caused by wars and conflicts. It understands that damaging the natural resources essential for life makes lasting peace impossible.
According to the UN, protecting the environment is key to preventing conflict, maintaining peace, and building a future of peace. Lasting peace cannot exist if the natural resources that support lives and ecosystems are destroyed.
