UNEP report highlights role of population dynamics in conflict over natural resources
1 June 2009
Source: PSN
The environmental dimension is one that has largely been ignored from conflict literature and policy making to date, yet a new report launched by the UN Environment Program (UNEP) uses a series of case studies to examine the role that environmental stressors play in conflict zones around the world today.
Dryland near Manatuto, Timor-Leste. Water scarcity can lead to drought and desertification and instigate conflict.
Credit: UN Photo/Martine Perret
Population growth and environmental stress
Environmental stress is compounded by population growth, resulting in declining resources and higher demand, and this will be a likely factor that intensifies conflict over the coming decades, the United Nation's Environment Programme (UNEP) argues.
Environmental factors are rarely, if ever the sole cause of conflict, the report From conflict to peacebuilding: the role of natural resources and the environment, outlines. Ethnicity, poverty, conflict in neighboring countries and low levels of international trade as critical factors. However the exploitation of natural resources and other environmental stressors can be implicated in all phases of the conflict cycle.
Climate Change
The onset of climate change will also serve to exacerbate resource scarcity.
“Addressing the issue of the environment in the context of conflict resolution, conflict prevention, peacekeeping, [and] peacebuilding becomes ever more important because we know from everything we have learned—and are learning every day—about climate change that one thing is for certain: The world is going to be under more stress,” says UNEP Director, Achim Steiner.
Contentious issues
It can be difficult to the make the links between “environment” and “conflict” since it will take more than environmental issues to spark a security threat, but also because it can be seen to challenge the sovereign rights of countries that seek to use their natural resources according to their national interest. UNEP therefore should be congratulated for taking the lead in this contentious area and for arguing that a greater breadth of conflict analysis should include environmental and resource planning.
PSN's response
PSN will build on this thesis in arguing that in line with a multi sector approach addressing environmental factors, security policy makers should also consider matters of population planning.
Out of the 20 states defined as "failing" by the UN, 17 have the highest rates of population growth in the world. Knock on effects of rapid population growth, not least a very young age structure and high incidence of poverty are numerous, but there are also important environmental considerations with respect to declining land or water availability and other natural resource management.
The report is available on the UNEP website.