War, law and the environment

This blog series features contributions from a diverse range of experts to raise awareness of international law protecting the environment in war and spotlights contemporary initiatives seeking to address related legal, military and other challenges.

Climate and environment considerations for weapon bearers in armed conflict

September 22, 2022 14 mins read Climate change / Climate change, conflict and humanitarian action / Humanitarian Action / War, law and the environment Sarah Gale

Why should parties to a conflict care about climate change and the environment? This is ...

Mine action in action: influencing law and policy on toxic remnants of war

December 21, 2021 12 mins read Analysis / Humanitarian Action / Law and Conflict / War, law and the environment Bonnie Docherty

In conjunction with the movement to prevent the environmental impacts of armed conflict has come ...

Mitigating the environmental impacts of explosive ordnance and land release

December 16, 2021 12 mins read Analysis / Humanitarian Action / Law and Conflict / War, law and the environment Alex Frost

Environmental considerations are rightly gaining increased prominence and awareness. Environmental experts agree that unprecedented changes ...

The nature-security nexus and the UN Security Council

October 14, 2021 12 mins read Analysis / Humanitarian Action / Law and Conflict / War, law and the environment Florian Titze

The destruction of nature and the world’s ecosystems presents an unprecedented challenge for humanity. With ...

Bringing IHL home: the protection of the environment in war

October 12, 2021 15 mins read Analysis / Humanitarian Action / Law and Conflict / War, law and the environment Jani Leino

When international law addresses a particular issue of concern, ultimately the intention is to have ...

If not us, who? How States – with the help of civil society – can implement the legal framework protecting the environment from armed conflict

June 10, 2021 11 mins read Analysis / Humanitarian Action / Law and Conflict / Religion / War, law and the environment Doug Weir & Stavros-Evdokimos Pantazopoulos

The International Law Commission’s long-running project to codify and progressively develop the legal framework protecting ...

Protecting the environment during armed conflict: IHL and Islamic law

June 3, 2021 12 mins read Analysis / Generating Respect for IHL / History / Humanitarian Action / Islamic Law / Law and Conflict / Religion / War, law and the environment Ahmed Al-Dawoody & Sarah Gale

Protecting the environment during armed conflict is garnering renewed attention in light of the ongoing ...

Data-driven environmental decision-making and action in armed conflict

June 1, 2021 12 mins read Analysis / Humanitarian Action / War, law and the environment Wim Zwijnenburg

A digital revolution through a myriad of earth observation data and open-source investigations is reshaping ...

Overcoming the disconnect: environmental protection and armed conflicts

May 27, 2021 10 mins read Analysis / Humanitarian Action / Law and Conflict / War, law and the environment Ambassador Marja Lehto

Environmental effects of armed conflicts do not only result from the conduct of hostilities but ...

Fighting without a Planet B: how IHL protects the natural environment in armed conflict

May 25, 2021 17 mins read Humanitarian Action / Law and Conflict / War, law and the environment Vanessa Murphy & Helen Obregón Gieseken

Armed conflicts from Kuwait to Vietnam continue to remind us that the environment can be ...