homeenvironment NewsInternational Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict 2023 is today

International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict 2023 is today

The International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict is aimed at raising awareness about devastating effects of war on the environment.

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By CNBCTV18.com Nov 6, 2023 11:19:56 AM IST (Published)

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International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict 2023 is today
The International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict is a global day observed on November 6 every year. This day highlights the impact of armed conflicts on our environment. This day reminds us of the importance of protecting our environment from the damage caused by war and armed conflicts in different regions of the world.

The day is aimed at raising awareness about the devastating effects of war on the environment. The United Nations established this day in order to raise awareness about the problem and to ensure the protection of the environment during war.
History of International Day for Preventing Environmental Exploitation in War and Armed Conflict
The International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict originated from the acknowledgement of the detrimental effect of war on the environment. This day was inaugurated by the United Nations (UN) on November 5, 2001, through a UN General Assembly resolution.
This day can be traced back to the early 1970s when global concerns about the ecological effects of war started to grow. The use of herbicides (like Agent Orange during the Vietnam War) and the deliberate destruction of oil wells in the 1990s Gulf War highlighted that environmental damages spawned by armed conflicts should be mitigated.
However, it raised concerns among people and thus the UN convened experts and member states to discuss the environmental effects of war and conflicts. This led to the resolution which marked the beginning of the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict.
Significance
The International Day for Preventing Environmental Exploitation in War and Armed Conflict carries profound significance and the major goals include:
  1. Environmental Safety During Conflict: It shows the importance of environmental protection during combat activities, stressing the disastrous consequences for ecosystems, wild animals, water, and the atmosphere.
  2. Promoting Peace and Sustainability: It highlights the connection between environmental safeguard and peace as part of peace-building.
  3. International Collaboration: Facilitates a global forum for discussing environmental conservation during conflicts where nations cooperate to develop effective strategies to minimise environmental destruction.
  4. Safeguarding Human Well-being: It focuses on the health impacts of environmental degradation during war and exposure to hazardous substances and polluted resources.
  5. Advocating Legal Frameworks: Promotes the upholding of international legal regimes of environmental protection during conflicts and observance of accords like the 1977 Geneva Conventions.
  6. Raising Public Awareness: By observing this, organizations and governments can increase public awareness about the environmental impacts of armed conflict and receive more support for initiatives that seek to eliminate them.
  7. Theme
    Every year a new theme is announced for the day. However, no theme has been announced for the International Day for Preventing Environmental Exploitation in War and Armed Conflict 2023.

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