The United Nations observes November 6th as the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, a day to recognize the far-reaching environmental impacts of armed conflicts and advocate for stronger protection measures. This day brings forth the often-overlooked environmental costs of war, emphasizing the need for wide-ranging solutions to protect such fragile ecosystems during and even after conflicts.
Throughout history, land and natural resources have been destroyed, causing many wars to result in a wasteland of pollution for human activities. From polluted water sources to deforestation, including the toxic leftovers and devastated farmland, the negative impacts of war on the environment benefit only the present times and deplete resources that should be used in the future. This is the point in time when the world’s attention, especially through the UN, has begun to realize a growing need for international policies to protect the environment from sometimes irreversible effects of war.
Environmental Impact of Armed Conflict
The impacts of environmental degradation because of armed conflict may come in several ways, as the weapons used, intensity, and length of conflict will determine such impacts. Impacts can be deliberate, accidental, or over time, a mere neglect. In the latest wars, there is this phenomenon called “scorched earth,” where all the resources are intentionally destroyed, and this is one way to deny populations food, water, and shelter. It leaves long-lasting scars in the landscape and may affect ecological balance for decades, if not centuries.
For example, destruction of agricultural fields, water supplies and forested areas renders all the regions uninhabitable or incapable of supporting a local population. The pollution of soils and waters by explosive and heavy metals threatens public health as well as the environment. In some instances, a whole ecosystem is affected by such destructions as forests and rivers are destroyed or water courses are dammed with the result that wildlife is reduced or forced to leave their habitats, affecting biodiversity.
Ecosystem Damage and Human Health
Conflict often directly imposes environmental effects on health and food security: polluted water sources expose groups of populations to harmful agents. This increases the risk of diseases and long-term health problems. Contamination of soil by explosives and other military activities’ waste can similarly render agriculture unsafe, both in production and local food supplies. Many regions have to rely on forests and natural resources for survival, and the same humanitarian crises are going to resurface because of environmental damage as communities try to rebuild.
For instance, post-conflict areas always experience land degradation due to war remnants such as destroyed military vehicles, destroyed infrastructure, and unexploded ordinances. Other than the fact that these remainders delay the return of displaced populations, they are also affecting the productivity and stability of the soil. This degradation has an implication on food security and limits economic recovery as affected persons are unable to resume any form of agriculture or recapture their lands.
Redressing Environmental Exploitation in Conflict Areas
The International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict is a call to action by governments, organizations, and communities to make environmental protection measures in conflict zones a priority. The UN has highlighted several measures that can mitigate environmental harm, such as the protection of natural resources, cleanup efforts for contaminated areas, and stricter regulations on military practices.
International law has little on offering protection to the environment amidst armed conflict. To implement this, it is challenging since few rules are available for excessive damage to the natural environment in the Geneva Conventions. Environmental advocacy groups, as well as international organizations, are demanding stricter rules on the matter, among other things, the enlargement of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court over environmental crimes in war times.
One of the most hopeful trends is the growing notion of “ecocide” as a potential international crime. The term ecocide is used for the large-scale destruction of the environment, which will offer the legal basis for charging parties responsible for environmental damage caused in war zones. In the advent of ecocide laws being passed, they would be another effective deterrent to environmentally dangerous activities in conflict and add more layers of accountability to perpetrators who exploit ecosystems for military or strategic advantage.
The Role of International Collaboration and Support
International collaboration and support are necessary to redress the environmental impacts of conflict. Humanitarian organizations, environmental groups, and governments collaborate on initiatives intended to restore damaged ecosystems and rehabilitation of communities in post-conflict areas. Some examples include replanting forests, removing unexploded ordnance and decontaminating water sources, all towards aiding recovery and rebuilding of sustainable livelihoods for communities.
Training local communities in sustainable land management practices may empower them to protect their resources from the negative effects of future conflicts and mitigate future environmental risks. Engaging local populations in restoration efforts can promote resilience and improve local capacity to face the environmental challenges posed by conflicts.
This is in the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, reminding us that protection of the environment is not left out in humanitarian efforts and peace building. Hence, protecting ecosystems leads to lasting peace because environmental stability is the basis for restoring and sustaining war-affected regions.
Global Awareness and the Way Forward
To establish public support and policy changes, awareness about the environmental impact of conflict is necessary. The governments, NGOs, and international organizations are increasingly emphasizing education and advocacy on this issue. Social media campaigns, educational programs, and public events held on November 6 inform communities about the importance of protecting the environment even in the face of conflict.
Only meaningful change, therefore, will occur when a peacekeeping and conflict resolution involve environmental protection policies. In the approach, the environment suffers as a “silent victim” of war and should be factored in reconstruction after the conflict. Through cooperations and preservation of resources, nations can work seamlessly to build a more promising future in the areas that they have had a war.
Source: United Nations