This post is part of a series on war, law and the environment co-hosted with the ICRC. It explores six complementary measures the international community should be implementing to more fully address the environmental dimensions of armed conflicts and insecurity.
The campaign to criminalise ‘ecocide’ has gained momentum in recent years. In this blog, Dr Rachel Killean explores the possibilities and challenges associated with introducing ecocide as a new international crime at the International Criminal Court.
Wild and domesticated animals have long-suffered abuse, injury or death in armed conflicts. In this blog, Janice Cox and Jackson Zee explore this history of harm and the reasons behind it, arguing that the animal victims of war require greater recognition and protection.
We explore a new CEOBS report that examines how states and the private sector could use international guidelines to reduce the environmental harm associated with corporate activities in fragile and conflict affected areas.
Why does Russia object to international processes aimed at integrating the environment into international policymaking on peace and security? Nina Lesikhina and Doug Weir summarise the findings of CEOBS’ major new report exploring how and why the concept of environmental security features in Russian domestic, security and foreign policies.
We reviewed Canada’s policies and practice on the protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts. We found some positives but issues like corporate conduct, Indigenous rights, nuclear weapons and occupation law need attention.
This #EnvConflictDay we argue that a new Environment, Peace and Security agenda is needed to ensure attention for the environment in the global peace and security discourse, to encourage transformative policymaking and to bring meaningful change to people and ecosystems in the world’s most fragile states.
Is environmental damage inevitable in war, or is it possible for it be afforded more protection? Might there be psychological barriers that have prevented governments developing more effective protection? Gabriela Kolpak and Klaudija Visockyte investigate.
