Armed Conflicts and Their Environmental Impacts: Toward a Global Legal Framework for Promoting Environmental Sustainability
Publisher: Asian Journal of Water, Environment, and Pollution
Author(s): Mohammad Alsalmi, Omar Alatawil Doaa Badran, Mahmoud Abdelhady, Naser Alsherman, and Ehab Alrousan
Date: 2026
Topics: Climate Change, Governance, Renewable Resources
In an era marked by intensifying armed conflicts, the protection of ecosystems and natural resources has become an urgent global imperative. This study aims to explore the environmental damage caused by armed conflicts and their prolonged effects on ecosystems and natural resources, highlighting the need for innovative and sustainable legal and policy solutions. The study adopts an analytical approach based on a comprehensive review of scientific literature and international documents on the impacts of armed conflicts on ecosystems. It integrates quantitative and qualitative data from reliable sources, such as the United Nations Environment Programme, to identify legal gaps and propose innovative solutions that enhance sustainability and international cooperation. The study reveals that despite the presence of international agreements, significant gaps remain in legal enforcement and cooperation between states and United Nations agencies, thereby limiting the effectiveness of environmental protection during armed conflicts. It also identifies mechanisms for the sustainable rehabilitation of affected areas. This study proposes an innovative global legal framework and practical mechanisms to integrate international law with environmental sciences, ensuring long-term sustainability of natural resources during and after armed conflicts.