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

The International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict is observed each year on November 6. The International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict is a UN-recognized observance that highlights the environmental damage caused by armed conflict. It calls for the protection of natural resources and ecosystems as an essential part of peace and security efforts.

History of the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict

On November 5, 2001, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/56/4, formally declaring November 6 as the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict. ¹
This day emerged from the recognition that armed conflict and the exploitation of natural resources are deeply intertwined: over recent decades, about 40% of internal conflicts have been linked to resource exploitation such as timber, gold, oil, or fertile land. The UN has emphasized that a healthy environment and sustainable resources are essential to lasting peace and must form part of conflict prevention, peacekeeping, and peace‑building efforts.

Why is International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict important?

The observance pulls into focus a dimension of war that often goes underacknowledged: how natural systems themselves become battlegrounds or casualties in armed conflicts. When forests are razed, water supplies poisoned, land rendered unusable, it is not only ecosystems that suffer—it is communities whose livelihoods, health, and futures depend on those systems. Acknowledging this helps us understand that environmental protection is inseparable from human security.
Moreover, the day prompts reflection on how the exploitation of natural resources often fuels conflicts and hinders peace. The connection between resource competition, environmental degradation, and armed violence means that neglecting ecosystem health can undermine any efforts at lasting stability. Recognizing and acting on that insight can bring a deeper, more preventative layer to how societies cope with, recover from, and avert conflict.
Here are some human‑sized reflections:

• It reminds us that war doesn’t just destroy buildings—it often destroys the land, rivers, and forests that people depend on.
• It challenges the idea that the environment is a bystander in conflict—it becomes part of the conflict when resources are exploited or ecosystems are degraded.
• It nudges policymakers and peacebuilders to include environmental protection in peace processes, not treat it as separate.
• It invites us all, even outside war zones, to recognize how resource misuse or destruction can ripple into bigger problems for societies.
• It reinforces that caring for the environment is not only about nature—it’s about human well-being, dignity, and the possibility of sustainable peace.

How to Observe the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict

Observing this day doesn’t require large‑scale programs—it can start with awareness, conversation,, and small, meaningful actions in your community or workplace. For example, hosting a talk or screening a short documentary on how conflicts affect the environment can open eyes to the issue. In schools or workplaces, you might organize a discussion on how local ecosystems would be affected if conflict reached them, or explore how post‑conflict communities rebuild their environments. On a personal level, consider how your own consumption or resource use connects to broader global systems and conflicts.
Here are some simple ideas:

• Read an article or watch a video about how war impacts the environment and share what you learn with someone.
• In a community group or organization, run a brief discussion about how natural resources can sustain peace rather than fuel conflict.
• If you work in a capacity related to environment or education, invite a speaker or arrange a webinar about environmental peace‑building.
• Support or promote an organization that works on environment‑and‑conflict issues, or follow the UN’s communications on this topic to stay informed.
• Reflect on one way your daily life (energy use, resource consumption, waste) connects to global environmental stability, and consider a small change.

International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict Dates Table

1. https://www.un.org/en/observances/environment-in-war-protection-day#:~:text=Yearly%20on%20November%206%2C%20the,can%20have%20on%20our%20environment.[↩]