Conflicts associated with natural resources are twice as likely to relapse into violent conflict. Yet, less than a quarter of peace negotiations for conflicts linked to natural resources have addressed resource management mechanisms. This study from the United Nations Environment Programme argues that the recognition of the contribution of environmental issues to violent conflict underscores their potential as pathways for cooperation and the consolidation of peace. Integrating environment and natural resources into peacebuilding strategies is now a security imperative.
During the last 60 years, 40 per cent of all intrastate conflicts have had a link to natural resources. The civil wars in Liberia, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo have centred on high-value resources like timber, diamonds, gold, minerals and oil. Other conflicts, including those in Darfur and the Middle East, have involved control of scarce resources such as fertile land and water.
Environmental factors are rarely the sole cause of violent conflict. However, the exploitation of natural resources and related environmental stresses can be implicated in all phases of the conflict cycle, from contributing to the outbreak and perpetuation of violence to undermining prospects for peace.
In addition, the environment can itself fall victim to conflict, as direct and indirect environmental damage, coupled with the collapse of institutions, can lead to environmental risks that threaten people’s health, livelihoods and security.
Given that the management of natural resources and the environment has a determining influence on peace and security, these issues:
- can contribute to a relapse into conflict if they are not properly managed in post-conflict situations;
- can contribute to peacebuilding through economic development and the generation of employment;
- can provide new opportunities for peacebuilding through cooperation over the management of shared natural resources; and
- must be taken into consideration from the outset. Poor choices made early on can establish unsustainable trajectories of recovery that undermine the fragile foundations of peace.
The establishment of the UN Peacebuilding Commission provides a chance to address environmental risks and capitalise on opportunities in a more consistent way. In order to integrate environment and natural resource issues into peacebuilding interventions and conflict prevention:
- the UN system needs to strengthen its capacity to deliver early warning and early action in countries that are vulnerable to conflicts over natural resources and environmental issues;
- the international community needs to increase oversight of high-value resources in international trade in order to minimise the potential for these resources to finance conflict;
- during peace mediation processes, wealth-sharing is one of the fundamental issues. Parties to a peace mediation process must be given sufficient training to make informed decisions on the sustainable use of natural resources;
- the UN should include natural resources and environmental issues into its peacebuilding strategies. A failure to respond to the environmental needs of the population can complicate the task of fostering peace;
- the international community should be prepared to help national authorities manage the extraction process and revenues in ways that do not increase risk of further conflict or are unsustainable in the longer term; and
- every state needs to use and protect vital natural resources. They thus serve as a catalyst for enhancing dialogue, exploiting shared interests and broadening cooperation between divided groups, as well as between states.
