Chair's Summary Report of State Expert Meeting on International Humanitarian Law: Protecting the Environment in Armed Conflicts

Abstract

The “State Expert Meeting on International Humanitarian Law: Protecting the Environment in Armed Conflicts”, organized by Switzerland and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for States party to the Geneva Conventions, was held in early 2023. The meeting brought together nearly 400 experts from ministries of defence, the environment and foreign affairs from over 120 countries to share national experiences, challenges and good practices related to the protection of the environment in armed conflicts. In addition, expert resource persons from the UN Environment Program, the UN International Law Commission and the International Union for Conservation of Nature supported the exchanges. The meeting's purpose was to progress on the national implementation of international humanitarian law relating to the protection of the natural environment in armed conflicts. The Chair's Summary prepared by Switzerland and the ICRC reviews the contents of the meeting, including the good practices shared, and can be drawn upon to enhance environmental protection in war. It can be found in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish at: www.icrc.org/en/document/chairs-summary-report-state-expert-meeting-ihl-protecting-natural-environment-armed .