The Role of Multilateral Environmental Agreements: A Reconciliatory Approach to Environmental Protection in Armed Conflict

Description

The environment suffers enormously during armed conflicts and, despite the increasing awareness of the pressing need to protect the planet, devastating environmental damage can occur legally at times of war. This book suggests that – apart from the protection offered under law of armed conflict – environmental treaties or multilateral agreements (MEAs) can complement and strengthen environmental protection when war occurs. Previous research has focused on the protection offered under the law of armed conflict (in particular international humanitarian law) and customary international environmental law concerning wartime environmental damage, or whether environmental treaties remain applicable at times of armed conflict. This book, however, is the first in-depth scholarly examination of how environmental treaties can apply in wartime and how they can contribute to the protection of the environment in relation to armed conflict. It also offers an updated study of environmental protection under the law of armed conflict, including the latest developments in the International Law Commission’s work on this underexplored topic. Volume 76 in the series Studies in International Law Contents Abbreviations Table of International Treaties, Resolutions, Decisions, etc 1. Setting the Scene I. Introduction II. Scope of the Book III. Why Read this Book? 2. Wartime Environmental Damage I. Introduction II. Categories of Wartime Environmental Damage III. Why Protect the Environment in Relation to Armed Conflict? 3. Special Protection under the Law of Armed Conflict I. Introduction II. The Foundations of the Law of Armed Conflict III. Adopting Special Environmental Protection in Warfare IV. Prohibition on Environmental Modification Techniques: The ENMOD Convention V. Absolute Environmental Protection in Protocol I VI. Conclusions 4. Special Environmental Protection under Customary
International Law I. Introduction II. ICRC Customary Law Study and the Draft Principles of the International Law Commission III. Special Environmental Protection in Non-international Armed Conflicts IV. Conclusions 5. General Protection under the Law of Armed Conflict I. Introduction II. Applying the General Rules of Protection to the Environment III. Turning the Environment into a Military Target IV. Understanding the Attacker V. Proportionality Test VI. Calculating the Unknown: The Principle of Precaution versus the Precautionary Approach VII. 'Greening' the Martens Clause VIII. Other Rules of Importance IX. Protection Under the Weapons Conventions X. Conclusions 6. International Environmental Treaties: A Missed Opportunity I. Introduction II. International Environmental Law at a Glance III. Explaining the Missed Opportunity IV. Applicability of MEAs During Armed Conflicts V. The Lex Specialis Rule During Armed Conflicts VI. Meaningless MEAs? VII. Conclusions 7. New Approach: Reconciling International Environmental Law
and the Law of Armed Conflict I. Introduction II. The World Heritage Convention and the Ramsar Convention III. Potential Normative Tensions IV. Adopting a Reconciliatory Approach V. The Elements That Enable MEAs to Reconcile VI. Reconciliation: Is it Possible? VII. Role of Treaty Institutions VIII. Conclusions 8. Protection of World Heritage in Relation to Armed Conflict:
The Case of the DRC I. Introduction II. The Armed Conflicts III. The Impact of Armed Conflicts on World Heritage Sites IV. The Application of the World Heritage Convention V. Contribution of the World Heritage Convention VI. Conclusions 9. Protection of the Ramsar Sites in Relation to Armed Conflict:
The Case of Mali I. Introduction II. The Armed Conflict III. Environmental Impacts and Rising Tensions in the Ramsar Sites IV. Application of the Ramsar Convention V. Contribution of the Ramsar Convention VI. Conclusions 10. The Way Forward I. Introduction II. Shortcomings of the Law of Armed Conflict III. Exploring Other Options IV. New Outlook: From Lex Specialis to Reconciliation V. Factors Contributing to the Operation of MEAs in Relation to Armed Conflict VI. The Way Forward Bibliography Index