Green Cost of Conflict: Examining War's Impact on Natural Resources

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.