International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict 2022

International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict 2022: Every year on November 6th, the United Nations observes the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict. The goal of the day is to raise awareness about the environmental consequences of war and conflict. War and armed conflict have a wide range of negative effects on the natural environment. Crops are destroyed, water supplies are poisoned, and forests are burned, to name a few examples. New military technology means that environmental destruction and damage are more severe, and the long-term consequences may be worse. The primary goal of the day is to inform people of how war and armed conflict affect the environment. Ecosystems like the water supply, the forest cover, and the animals are also harmed by war.

Important Days in November 2022 

International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict 2022: History

On November 5, 2001, the United Nations General Assembly established November 6 as the International Day for Preventing Environmental Exploitation in War and Armed Conflict (resolution 56/4). The assembly concluded that any environmental damage caused by armed conflict harms ecosystems and natural resources long after the conflict has ended. This harm frequently extends beyond the boundaries of national territories and the current generation. The assembly also recalled the United Nations Millennium Declaration, which emphasised the importance of environmental protection.

International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict 2022: Significance

This day was established to protect the environment as a source of security and peace, and to prevent its use in military conflicts. We are all encouraged to speak up and reaffirm our commitment to protecting our threatened planet, even in the face of armed aggression.

The devastation caused by war and armed conflict can have serious and long-term repercussions, so the day also emphasises how these effects are harming the environment. According to the UN, taking environmental measures is part of conflict prevention, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding strategies because it is impossible to maintain a lasting peace if the natural resources that support ecosystems and human livelihoods are depleted.