• Ananya Srivastava

Armed conflicts, while primarily studied through political, economic, and humanitarian lenses, also inflict profound and often irreversible damage on the environment. This dissertation explores the multifaceted environmental consequences of warfare, coining the term "green cost of conflict" to encapsulate the degradation of natural ecosystems, biodiversity loss, pollution, and unsustainable exploitation of resources in both historical and contemporary conflict zones. The study adopts an interdisciplinary approach, integrating legal analysis, environmental science, and political ecology to investigate how war disrupts ecological balance. Key environmental impacts—such as deforestation, air and water contamination, and soil degradation—are examined through detailed case studies from Syria, Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Iraq, among others. Special attention is given to the challenges of post-conflict ecological recovery, natural resource governance, and the role of international institutions in mediating environmental damage. In analysing existing legal frameworks like the Geneva Conventions, the Rome Statute, and customary international law, this research identifies critical gaps in the protection of the environment during armed conflict. It proposes comprehensive policy recommendations, including the creation of binding legal instruments, the establishment of an International Environmental Tribunal, and the integration of environmental assessments in military planning. Furthermore, this work evaluates global efforts such as COP29 (Baku) and the growing recognition of environmental peacebuilding as a pathway to sustainable recovery. The dissertation concludes by advocating for stronger international cooperation, local community engagement, and legally enforceable environmental safeguards to minimize the ecological footprint of warfare. Through this inquiry, the dissertation contributes to the evolving field of environmental conflict law and underscores the urgent need for a global paradigm shift that place environmental sustainability at the heart of conflict prevention and post-war reconstruction.

AU African Union ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations CBD Convention on Biological Diversity CBNRM Community-Based Natural Resource Management COP Conference of the Parties ECIR Environmental Conflict Impact Reporting EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EU European Union ICRC International Committee of the Red Cross ICC International Criminal Court IET International Environmental Tribunal IMF International Monetary Fund IHL International Humanitarian Law IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change MEA Multilateral Environmental Agreement NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization NGO Non-Governmental Organization SDGs Sustainable Development Goals UN United Nations UNEP United Nations Environment Programme UNGA United Nations General Assembly UNSC United Nations Security Council WEDCF War Environmental Damage Compensation Fund WHO World Health Organization WTO World Trade Organization

"Green Cost of Conflict: Examining War's Impact on Natural Resources", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 5, page no.k662-k712, May-2025, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIRTHE2211.pdf

"Green Cost of Conflict: Examining War's Impact on Natural Resources", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 5, page no. ppk662-k712, May-2025, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIRTHE2211.pdf