INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR PREVENTING THE EXPLOITATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN WAR AND ARMED CONFLICT: ‘ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE’

What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another.” -  Mahatma Gandhi 

Our earth, with all of its beauty and sumptuousness, has been a home for human beings and other living creatures for over a billion years.Known as the most remarkable planet because of its rich resources, Earth never fails to provide and sustain the lives within it.Unfortunately, as said by Mahatma Gandhi, “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed”, we humans remain known for our siphoning of natural resources without considering environmental sustainability. 

According to history, the depletion and damage of our earth and its environment have been highly related to events of war and armed conflict. The environment and natural resources alike have been both the reason, and victim of war and armed conflict. A study conducted by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), found that at least 40 percent of conflicts have been driven by the exploitation of natural resources such as gold, oil, and even spices. Forests and crops are normally burned down, water-sources are polluted, soils are poisoned and animals are killed for the sake of gaining military advantage.Understanding the correlation between environmental exploitation and armed conflict, 6th November was declared as the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict which serves a purpose of educating and bringing awareness to the damaging effects of war and armed conflict. 

World Assembly of Youth (WAY),supports this year theme of ‘Environmental Governance’ and believe it is one of the solutions towards preventing further depletion of our natural resources as well as promoting both peace keeping and building strategies.Going forward, an insufficiency of natural resources poses a detrimental threat to the human-civilization and its sustainability. A global understanding on the matter is thus instrumental to achieving environmental sustainability and ensuring the longevity of the human population. The implementation of Environmental Governance especially at international level, equipped with cooperation from all countries and preservation of natural resources can be achieved.Distributive management of resources should be followed to control functions of every country’s access. Peace building should be established and every country must respect mutual relations as both producers and consumers of natural resources.