Canada’s Practice on the Protection of the Environment in Relation to Armed Conflicts
Publisher: Conflict and Environment Observatory
Author(s): Stavros Pantazopoulos and Doug Weir
Date: 2021
Topics: Governance, Land, Peace and Security Operations, Weapons, Waste, and Pollution
Countries: Canada
This report outlines Canada’s practice on the Protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts, or PERAC. This analysis is conducted by reference to the 28 draft legal principles on this topic that have recently been adopted on first reading by the UN’s International Law Commission (ILC). The report’s aim is threefold: firstly, to seek to identify Canada’s position regarding each draft principle; secondly, to trace potential discrepancies between Canada’s positions and the draft principles; and thirdly, to provide recommendations that will enhance environmental protection throughout the cycle of conflicts. The report follows the temporal approach that is utilised by the ILC, considering practice before, during, and after armed conflicts, and in situations of occupation.