UNITED
NATIONSEPUNEP/EA.2/Res.15
Distr.: General
4 August 2016
Original: English

United Nations
Environment Assembly of theUnited Nations Environment
Programme
United Nations Environment Assembly of theUnited Nations Environment Programme
Second session
Nairobi, 23–27 May 2016

2/15. Protection of the environment in areas affected by armed
conflict
The United Nations Environment Assembly,
Mindful of the importance of safeguarding the natural environment in times of armed conflictfor the sake of future generations and to consolidate efforts for the protection of our commonenvironment,
Recognizing the role of healthy ecosystems and sustainably managed resources in reducing therisk of armed conflict,
Expressing its deep concern about environmental damage inflicted by certain means andmethods of warfare, in particular during armed conflict,Reaffirming its strong commitment to the full implementation of the Sustainable Development
Goals listed in General Assembly resolution 70/1, entitled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development”,
Recalling General Assembly resolution 47/37, entitled “Protection of the environment in timesof armed conflict”, which urges States to take all measures to ensure compliance with the existing
international law applicable to the protection of the environment in times of armed conflict, toconsider becoming parties to the relevant international conventions, and to take steps to incorporatesuch provisions into their military manuals; and General Assembly resolution 56/4, entitled“Observance of the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War andArmed Conflict”,
Taking note of General Assembly resolution 50/70, entitled “General and complete
disarmament”; General Assembly resolution 53/242, entitled “Report of the Secretary-General onenvironment and human settlements”, which reaffirms that, in accordance with its mandate, theUnited Nations Environment Programme should not become involved in conflict identification,
prevention or resolution; and General Assembly resolution 57/337, entitled “Prevention of armedconflict”, which recognizes the need for mainstreaming and coordinating the prevention of armed
conflict throughout the United Nations system and calls upon all its relevant organs, organizations andbodies to consider, in accordance with their respective mandates, how they could best include aconflict prevention perspective in their activities, where appropriate,
Stressing the importance of the implementation by all Member States of international law
applicable to the protection of the environment in areas affected by armed conflict in line withMember States’ legal responsibilities, and in this regard welcoming efforts by the United Nations
Environment Programme to build capacity and provide expertise to all Member States upon request,

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Taking note of the 1994 Guidelines for Military Manuals and Instructions on the Protection of
the Environment in Times of Armed Conflict of the International Committee of the Red Cross,
Recognizing the significance of the work on environmental protection carried out in theframework of the United Nations system and within other international bodies, including the work of
the United Nations Environment Programme on providing assistance in monitoring, reducing andmitigating the impacts of environmental degradation from armed conflicts, and on post-conflictassessments, as well as its activities in response to crisis situations throughout the world, including
through delivering wide-ranging environmental expertise to national Governments and partners in theUnited Nations system,
Welcoming the work of the United Nations Environment Programme on the protection of theenvironment in areas affected by armed conflict,Acknowledging the need for mitigating the environmental impact of activities of transnationaland other organized criminal groups, including illegal armed groups, as well as the illegal exploitationand trade of natural resources in areas affected by armed conflict, and noting the role that theUnited Nations Environment Programme can play, within its mandate, to support Member States inaddressing these challenges upon request,
Taking note of the ongoing process in the relevant sphere being undertaken by theInternational Law Commission, including its 2015 report on the protection of the environment inrelation to armed conflicts,
Recognizing that sustainable development and the protection of the environment contribute tohuman well-being and the enjoyment of human rights,
Recognizing also the need to mitigate and minimize the specific negative effects ofenvironmental degradation in situations of armed conflict and post-conflict on people in vulnerable
situations, including children, youth, persons with disabilities, older persons, indigenous peoples,refugees and internally displaced persons, and migrants, as well as to ensure the protection of theenvironment in such situations,
Recognizing further the specific negative effects of environmental degradation on women andthe need to apply a gender perspective with respect to the environment and armed conflicts,
1.
Stresses the critical importance of protecting the environment at all times, especiallyduring armed conflict, and of its restoration in the post-conflict period, including from the unintended
collateral impacts of human displacement resulting from armed conflict;
2.
Emphasizes the need for raising greater international awareness of the issue ofenvironmental damage during armed conflicts and the need to adequately protect the environment
when it is affected by armed conflict;3.
Urges States to take all appropriate measures to ensure compliance with the relevantinternational obligations under international humanitarian law in relation to the protection of theenvironment in times of armed conflict;4.
Calls on all Member States to implement applicable international law related to theprotection of the environment in situations of armed conflict, including in their domestic legislation as
appropriate and in line with international obligations which they have signed on to, and to consider
expressing consent to be bound by relevant international agreements to which they are not yet parties;
5.
Invites Member States to consider reflecting the Guidelines for Military Manuals andInstructions on the Protection of the Environment in Times of Armed Conflict of the International
Committee of the Red Cross;6.
Also invites all Member States to cooperate closely on preventing, minimizing andmitigating the negative impacts of armed conflicts on the environment;
7.
Requests the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, inpartnership with Governments, scientific institutions, United Nations agencies, civil society and otherrelevant stakeholders, within available resources and in conformity with the mandate of theProgramme, to continue providing enhanced assistance to countries affected by armed conflict andcountries in post-conflict situations, including those affected by the unintended collateral impacts ofrelated human displacement, at their request, for post-crisis environmental assessment and recovery;

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8.
Also requests the Executive Director, in partnership with the Director-General of theUnited Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Governments and relevant
stakeholders, within available resources and in conformity with the mandate of the Programme, tocontinue providing enhanced assistance to countries within whose territory natural World Heritage
Sites affected by armed conflict are located, including those affected by the environmental impacts of
the illegal exploitation of natural resources, at those States’ request;
9.
Calls on all Member States to continue to support, where appropriate, the development
and implementation of programmes, projects and development policies aimed at preventing or
reducing the impacts of armed conflicts on the natural environment;
10.
Requests the Executive Director to continue interaction with the International Law
Commission, inter alia by providing relevant information to the Commission at its request in supportof its work pertaining to the protection of the environment in relation to armed conflict;
11.
Also requests the Executive Director to report to the United Nations Environment
Assembly as soon as possible, but no later than at the fourth session, on progress by theUnited Nations Environment Programme in the implementation of the present resolution.
6th plenary meeting
27 May 20163