Mitigating Adverse Environmental Impacts in Mine Action
Publisher: Journal of Conventional Weapons
Author(s): Martin Jebens and Gianluca Maspoli
Date: 2018
Topics: Peace and Security Operations, Weapons, Waste, and Pollution
Countries: Cambodia, Croatia
In order to help mitigate adverse environmental impacts, this article supports the mainstreaming of environmental concerns into mine action. This is achievable by strengthening existing standards, and is motivated by two main factors.
Firstly, an increased consideration of environmental issues is based on growing concerns about climate change and is reflected in international treaties and agreements. Additionally, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda) and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) are significantly important to the protection of the environment and are relevant frameworks for mine action.
Secondly, International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) are an essential tool for mainstreaming environmental concerns, and in particular IMAS 10.70 “Safety & occupational health - Protection of the environment.” This guidance can be improved, and this article proposes changes to IMAS 10.70 in order to better reflect current needs and practices