International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict

While armed conflicts and military activities can cause or facilitate many different forms of environmental harm, addressing the environment during and after conflicts can also create opportunities for building and sustaining peace , and for helping to transform societies through sustainable recovery. Shared natural resources can provide the basis for dialogue between warring parties , as can common environmental threats that extend across human boundaries and borders. Unpredictable energy supplies during conflicts can encourage a transition to solar power , while the devastation conflicts cause can be an opportunity to build back greener , or to create new domestic legal frameworks to sustainably manage resources. However, these opportunities are dependent on more attention being paid to the environment before, during and after conflicts . Public interest is far greater than it has been historically, thanks in part to improved documentation of harm. This is creating expectations ...