Conflict-related damage to the environment has become widespread and causes sustained harm to public health, ecosystems, and peacebuilding.
The International Law Commission (ILC) will finalize its work on new principles for the protection of the environment in relation to armed conflict (the PERAC principles) in 2022. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) published an updated iteration of its Guidelines on the Protection of the Natural Environment in Armed Conflict in 2020.
International momentum is gathering for states to implement these frameworks. However, independent mechanisms to monitor the implementation are currently lacking.
The international community and civil society actors need to ensure transparent monitoring mechanisms that enable stakeholders to pressure states into compliance.
