By – Dr. N. Munal Meitei
“The greatest victory is that which requires no battle”-Sun Tzu
International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict is celebrated on the 6th November since 2001reminding us an opportunity to recognize the environment as yet another victim of war. We always counted the war casualties in terms of dead and wounded soldiers and civilians, destroyed cities and livelihoods, but environment has often remained as the unpublicized victim. During war, water have been polluted, crops torched, forests cut down, soils poisoned, and animals killed to gain military advantage. Now, action on the environment is part of conflict prevention, peacekeeping and peace building strategies – because there can be no durable peace if the natural resources and ecosystems are destroyed.
It is also an opportunity to take steps to reduce the collateral damage of conflicts and protect the natural resources that are so crucial for the sustainable development. Environmental degradation and destruction from conflicts not only takes a toll on nature, but exacerbates insecurity on all living beings.
Furthermore, at least 40% of all internal conflicts over the last 60 years have been linked to the exploitation of natural resources, such as timber, oil, rare elements, diamonds, gold, or scarce resources such as fertile land and water. Conflicts involving natural resources have been found to be twice as likely to relapse.
So, it is timely to consider the impact of war on our environment where some destruction can be remedied but maximum devastation cannot. The detonation of today’s bombs will leave a legacy of lasting damage to the human beings and the environment. Perhaps we need for a significant concern when we have an International Environmental Court which can decide the issues of responsibility between the states for the devastation they caused and can adjudicate on compensation as well as the necessary corollary of adding the crime of ecocide to the panoply of justiciable crimes by the International Criminal Court thereby holding individuals responsible.
In war and armed conflict, the environment is the most-unrecognized victim. Reports show that the emissions from Russia-Ukraine war reached a total of 230 MtCO2e since 2022, almost more than 2% of global emission, an equivalent of the annual emissions of Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia combined. Again, environment is targeted as a part of warfare. In Ukraine, the Siverskyi Donets River has been further damaged by pollution from the conflict. War and armed conflict also contributes 2024 to become the hottest year in the global history.
Climate change is an ever-pressing issue; however, the issue is also an indirect driver of conflict. Climate change negatively affects the likelihood of conflict such as food security and competition over natural resources. Furthermore, because of drought, flood and other environmental catastrophes, people are forced to move to other regions which cause the risk of increasing tensions in the new settlements.
It can be questioned whether international humanitarian law is enough to prevent this. Article 35 and Article 55 of Additional Protocol 1 of the Geneva Conventions prohibit warfare that causes widespread, long-term and severe damage to the natural environment. This should be an incentive to give the environment greater protection in conflicts, but also to work on healthy ecosystems and manage resources to prevent conflicts.
Nearly 1.5 billion people, over 20% of the world’s population, live in conflict-affected areas and fragile states. War and armed conflict present a risk for humanity and other forms of life on our planet. Too many lives and wildlife species are at stake. Decades of ugly wars in many countries have led to the immense loss of natural resources. In Afghanistan alone, we have witnessed astounding deforestation rates which have reached 95% in some areas.
Israel-Palestine war, escalated after the October 7, 2023, has caused massive human and infrastructural damage on both the territories. Approximately 92% of all residential have been damaged. Over 125 hospitals and clinics and nearly 95% of Schools, 89% of water and sanitation infrastructure and 83% of the electric infrastructure have also been destroyed as of October, 2024.
An estimated 50-60 million tons of rubble, potentially contaminated with unexploded ordnance, need clearing, a task projected to take years. At least 206 archaeological and heritage sites, including churches and mosques, have been damaged or destroyed. The scale of the destruction has led to accusations of genocide and a humanitarian crisis, with much of Gaza rendered uninhabitable. Thus, war and conflict has been disastrous for forest and wildlife.
It would be a dangerous mistake to ignore these environmental consequences of conflict and the international community needs to act with greater urgency. We need to renew our commitment to jealously protect our planet from the debilitating effects of war and especially at such a moment where the planet is already threatened by the impact of the runaway climate crisis. We need also to have a range of important tools at our disposal to promote environmental peace building.
This day not only reminds us of the catastrophic consequences of environmental damage during times of conflict but we are called to reaffirm our commitment to protect our planet, even in the face of adversity and to work towards a world where the environment remains a source of security and peace.
Protecting the environment can be a means of preventing conflict and promoting peace. Ecosystem preservation can mitigate the root causes of many conflicts. It encourages nations and individuals to come together, share knowledge and collaborate on strategies to prevent the exploitation of the environment during times of conflict.
On this day, we urge to all to speak up boldly and renew your commitment to protect our imperiled planet, even in the face of hostile armed aggression as there can be no durable peace if the natural resources and ecosystems are destroyed.
(The author is Environmentalist, presently working as DFO/Chandel, email-nmunall@yahoo.in