Executive Summary
This guidance document from the ICRC outlines measures for states and armed groups to implement International Humanitarian Law (IHL) rules protecting the natural environment during armed conflict. It focuses on key obligations such as prohibiting widespread environmental damage, applying general IHL rules to the environment, and preventing hostile environmental modification. The document also emphasizes integrating environmental protection into military doctrine, training, and weapons review policies.
Why It Matters
This document provides critical guidance for states and military forces on integrating environmental protection into military operations and doctrine, which is essential for mitigating the long-term impacts of conflict on affected regions and populations.
Key Takeaways
- States must integrate the prohibition of widespread, long-term, and severe environmental damage into military manuals and domestic legislation, clarifying key terms.
Source evidence · PDF page 5
Many states have integrated this prohibition into military manuals and, in some cases, into domestic legislation, and have adopted other national measures to promote its implementation. States should also endeavour to clarify the meaning of the terms “widespread”, “long-term” and “severe”
- General IHL rules on the conduct of hostilities, including distinction, proportionality, and precaution, apply to the natural environment, which is generally considered civilian.
Source evidence · PDF page 8
Many states apply the general rules on the conduct of hostilities to the natural environment in their military manuals and targeting doctrine. For instance: Algeria’s military manual (2024) states that the natural environment “and all parts of it are civilian objects, except those that become military objectives.
- Dissemination and training on IHL rules protecting the natural environment are crucial for armed forces and civilian populations, requiring integration into doctrine, education, and exercises.
Source evidence · PDF page 17
It is important to disseminate IHL rules protecting the natural environment and integrate them into armed forces’ doctrine, education, instruction, training and disciplinary systems. States should also extend dissemination to civilian audiences as part of broader national IHL outreach efforts.
Strategic Relevance
The guidance enhances the strategic and tactical considerations for military operations by mandating environmental protection, influencing doctrine development, weapons procurement, and training. It aims to reduce the environmental footprint of warfare, which can have long-term geopolitical and humanitarian consequences.