States Reluctant to Strengthen Laws Protecting the Environment from War

Mar 8, 2022 | Conflict and Environment Observatory
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The invasion of Ukraine has once again highlighted the threat that wars pose to the environment. It has also drawn attention to the weakness of the legal framework that should protect it. The environment suffers before, during and after armed conflicts, as well as in situations of occupation. In 2009, a process was initiated to strengthen the framework, merging principles of international humanitarian law with those from environmental and human rights law.

Since 2013, the process has been undertaken by the UN International Law Commission (ILC), an expert body that makes recommendations to the UN General Assembly on the progressive development and codification of international law. The project – Protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts (PERAC) – has so far identified 28 draft principles, and is set to conclude in autumn 2022.