Conflicts, military actions worsen ‘triple planetary crisis’ – NGOs
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – A number of NGOs stressed that the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment for all can only be reached through addressing the “interlinkages” between conflict and the “triple planetary crisis.”
Syrians for Truth and Justice (STJ) said on Wednesday that the NGOs, in a joint submission to the Sixth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) on effective, inclusive, and sustainable multilateral actions to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, highlighted the issue that violent conflicts and military actions around the world exacerbate “the triple planetary crisis.”
They voiced disappointed that “the zero draft Ministerial Declaration…does not recognize the effects of conflict and military activities on global climate and environmental challenges.”
The joint submission was signed by Interecocentre in Ukraine, Conflict and Environment Observatory in the UK, Berghof Foundation in Germany, European Institute of Peace in Belgium, PÊL- Civil Waves in Syria, STJ in Syria, and Tigris River Protectors Association in Iraq, among others.
It also tackled the “destructive impacts on biodiversity” left by the ongoing conflicts in Syria and Yemen, as well as, the simmering social and political tensions in some countries due to “droughts, lack of rainfall and heatwaves” that result in displacement.
It went further adding that “recognizing the interlinkages between the triple planetary crisis, conflict and peace” contributes to “better analysis of the nature of these global challenges…provide for more effective and sustainable solutions to address them.”
The signatories called on the world’s ministers for the environment to include a peace and conflict lens into the language of the UNEA-6 ministerial declaration.
“Violent conflicts cause environmental degradation and fuel climate emergencies through direct destruction of nature, pollution, extensive military emissions, human displacement and unsustainable coping strategies,” according to the joint submission.
They also required the international community implements existing multilateral environmental agreements.
It added, “The attainment of the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment for all would not be feasible unless the interlinkages between conflict and the triple planetary crisis are addressed.”
The NGOs called for recognizing the inherent relationship between conflict and the triple planetary crisis, highlighting the need to include conflict sensitivity in relevant international environmental agreements , enhancing effective multilateral actions for environmental monitoring and assessment in conflict prevention programming and planning, and highlighting the role of the environment as a crucial element for building and sustaining peace.