Event Report: Addressing the Environmental Dimensions of Armed Conflict to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals

Jun 2, 2016 | Jessica Dorsey
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During UNEA-2, the TRW Network partnered with Zoi Environment Network, The Environmental Law Institute (ELI) and Norwegian People’s Aid on a ‘Green Room’ side event on conflict and the environment. UNEA’s Green Room events are a series of side events primarily for civil society, with a view toward sharing experiences and increasing opportunities for informal dialogue among participants.

Our event was entitled: “Addressing the environmental dimensions of armed conflict to achieve the SDGs” and featured presentations from Carl Bruch, Director of ELI; Otto Simonett, Director of Zoi; and Doug Weir of the Toxic Remnants of War Project. I chaired the event on behalf of PAX and the TRWN. As a bit of context, the event aimed to provide an introduction to the environmental dimensions of contemporary armed conflicts and their relationship to the SDGs. It was designed to consider the gaps in legal protection and international assistance that should be addressed in future, and the role that States and civil society can play in promoting efforts to strengthen the protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts.