CEOBS was launched in 2018 with the primary goal of increasing awareness and understanding of the environmental and derived humanitarian consequences of conflicts and military activities. In this, we seek to challenge the idea of the environment as a ‘silent victim of armed conflict’. Download our ‘About us‘ summary.
We are driven by the principle that access to reliable environmental information is vital in relation to armed conflicts. Indeed openness and transparency are critical when the environment becomes politicised.
CEOBS builds on six years of research and policy work by its predecessor the Toxic Remnants of War Project. The Project sought to identify new opportunities for collecting data on environmental harm and the human suffering it causes, and the means through which data could be used to inform greater protection for the environment, and for those who depend on it, before during and after armed conflicts. CEOBS’ work extends beyond the environmental consequences of war to also consider the role of environmental factors in triggering or driving insecurity.
We intend for this website, which aggregates information on multiple conflicts and topics, to be a resource for policy-makers, researchers, activists and journalists interested in the environmental dimensions of armed conflicts.
We work with international organisations, civil society, academia and communities to:
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Monitor and publicise data on the environmental dimensions of armed conflicts;
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Develop tools to improve data collection and sharing;
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Monitor and scrutinise developments in law and policy that could contribute towards the reduction of humanitarian and environmental harm.
CEOBS’ overarching aim is to ensure that the environmental consequences of armed conflicts and military activities are properly documented and addressed, and that those affected are assisted.
Partnerships
CEOBS works in partnership with a range of organisations that share our aims, recent and current research partners include:
Harvard Law School, King’s College London, Norwegian People’s Aid, the University of Edinburgh, the University of Leeds and Scientists for Global Responsibility.
Interested in collaboration, contact us to discuss potential opportunities.
Donors
We are grateful to the following current and past donors for supporting our work:
The OSCE, UNEP, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, the Minor Foundation for Major Challenges, the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Knowledge Management Fund, the British Ecological Society and LUSH.
Our status and networks
CEOBS is registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales – number 1174115. We have been in Consultative Status with UN ECOSOC since 2023, and accredited to the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) of the UN Environment Programme since 2018. CEOBS has observer status at the UNFCCC (2023) and the IPCC (2024).
We are a founding member of the Environmental Peacebuilding Association, a Participating Organisation of the Group on Earth Observations, and members of the European Citizen Science Association, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, the International Network on Explosive Weapons, International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Yorkshire Space Hub.
Our privacy policy is available here.
Staff
Doug Weir, Director
Doug has undertaken research and advocacy on the environmental legacy of armed conflicts and military activities since 2005. He has contributed to a wide range of domestic, regional and international initiatives on conflict and the environment, with a particular focus on the work of the UN Environment Assembly and on the progressive development of the legal framework protecting the environment in relation to armed conflicts. He holds degrees in Geology and Print Journalism from Manchester and Sheffield universities, and is a Visiting Research Fellow in the Department of Geography at King’s College London.
Linsey Cottrell, Environmental Policy Officer
Linsey is a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv), qualified as a Specialist in Land Condition (SiLC) and before joining CEOBS, worked in the environmental consultancy sector for more than 20 years. She has a degree background in chemistry and MSc in Environmental Pollution and Control from the University of Leeds, as well as a Post Graduate Certificate in Environmental Management and Sustainability. From her work for a broad range of industrial and commercial clients, Linsey has gained a diverse range of experience in land quality, conventional and non-conventional contaminants, due diligence auditing and environmental risk assessment. Linsey was also Trustee for the Institution of Environmental Sciences from 2016 – 2022, and remains an active member.
Dr Eoghan Darbyshire, Senior Researcher
Eoghan has an academic background in air pollution research, conducting in-situ and remote sensing measurements in order to characterise rapidly changing environments – in Delhi, the Arctic, the Arabian Peninsula and the Amazon rainforest. He holds a PhD in atmospheric physics from the University of Manchester, where he also completed an undergraduate degree in Environmental Science and worked as a post-doctoral researcher. He also holds an MRes degree in Physics of the Earth and Atmosphere, awarded by the University of Leeds.
Ellie Kinney, Military Emissions Campaigner
Simon Watkins, Operations Co-ordinator
Simon is a Chartered Landscape Architect and permaculture practitioner with particular expertise in humanitarian landscape planning, participatory design, regenerative ecosystems and sustainable water management. He holds a Masters in Food Security Management from Coventry University, focusing on agroecological systems and the use of regenerative principles in planning for refugee camps. He is a member of the Humanitarian Landscape Collective network and of Re-Alliance.
Dr Anna McKean, Researcher
Anna is a researcher specialised in environmental governance, sustainability and humanitarian demining in Ukraine, as well as an experienced project manager. She holds a PhD in Environmental Sciences and Policy from Central European University (Hungary), an M.Sc. in Sustainable Development from Uppsala University (Sweden) and an MBA from the National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”.
Dr Linas Svolkinas, Researcher
Linas has an academic background in seal conservation and conservation social science. His research used a range of methods to analyse anthropogenic threats to biological diversity and to develop effective policy interventions and strategies aiming at tackling them, with a regional focus on Eastern Europe. He holds a PhD in sustainability from the University of Leeds, and a postgraduate and undergraduate degrees in anthropology from the universities of Copenhagen and Vilnius.
Leon Moreland, Researcher
Leon is an environmental scientist with a strong interest in utilising open-source research methods and investigative techniques. He holds a BSc in Geology (Hons) from the University of Hull, and completed his MSc in Pollution and Environmental Control at the University of Manchester. Before joining CEOBS, Leon worked as a researcher, conducting a meta-analysis of research related to marine biological traits. Additionally, he has also managed onsite ground investigations as a geotechnical engineer. Since 2020, he has been an active Fellow of the British Geological Society.
Abubakr Mohammad, Researcher
Abubakr is an author, naturalist, independent researcher on the natural heritage of Sudan and South Sudan. His academic background is in Entomology, pesticides and plant protection and he has worked as a researcher with many Sudan based NGOs. He is currently the country representative for Sudan and trustee board member for the African Bird Club. Abubakr’s research experience, scientific publications and studies focus on natural history, the long-term impacts of urban development, conflicts and land-use on biodiversity and protected areas. He has worked in conflict zones and natural disaster scenarios as environmental consultant. He has also supervised environmental management systems and bioremediation projects within oil concession areas in Sudan and South Sudan.
Rob Watson, Junior Researcher
Rob has a background in geomorphology and hydrogeology, specialising in karst and volcanic environments. His research has combined remote sensing, scientific programming, and geological and geophysical fieldwork to investigate surface and subsurface geomorphological and hydrological processes. He holds an integrated Masters of Geophysics from the University of Leeds, and MSc by research from University College Dublin. Prior to joining CEOBS, he studied for a PhD in karst geomorphology, again at University College Dublin, investigating the interconnection between geological surfaces and karsification.
Jay Lindle, Junior Researcher
Jay has a background in Hydrogeology and Water resources, with previous roles in both engineering consultancy and international NGOs. This work has involved a combination of fieldwork and desk-based studies; gathering geophysical and hydrogeological data for geothermal heating systems to researching groundwater management in conservation areas. He holds an MSc in Hydrogeology from Copenhagen University and an undergraduate degree in Geology.
Iryna Babanina, Junior Researcher
Iryna holds a MSc in Ecology and Environmental Sciences from the National Aviation University, Ukraine. She has a civil society background with a focus on environmental democracy, national environmental legislation and public engagement. Her research interests include the remediation and rehabilitation of populated areas, impacts of the war in Ukraine on water infrastructure and water ecosystems and the intertwined humanitarian and environmental consequences of the hostilities.
Jonathan Walsh, Junior Researcher
Jonathan holds an MA in International Relations from Leiden University, and an MSc in Earth Observation from the University of Edinburgh, where he researched surface water contamination from abandoned coal mines in the occupied Donbas. He has a background working with NGOs in post-conflict contexts and the provision of explosive ordnance risk education. His interests include remote sensing for mine action, and developing methods using open-source remote sensing data and interdisciplinary expertise to monitor and assess the environmental impacts of conflict.
Tasneem Sied Ahmed, Junior Researcher
With an academic background is in plastic engineering, Tasneem also holds a postgraduate degree in Development Studies from the University of Khartoum. Her career has spanned research, advocacy and humanitarian efforts in Sudan. In addition to her work with CEOBS, she serves as a Loss and Damage Negotiator, gaining insights into international climate diplomacy. Formerly a Project Researcher at the Darfur Land Project, Tasneem’s experience also includes roles with MSF, managing emergency response projects, monitoring humanitarian contexts and the promotion of human rights. Tasneem’s interests include grassroots initiatives, COVID-19 response and community-driven campaigns, with a focus on research contributing to social welfare and human rights in Sudan’s challenging socio-political landscape.