Nazeli Vardanyan Environmental Lawyer
“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”
(Native American Proverb)
Today, the planet is experiencing an extreme ecological crisis. There are numerous environmental issues that arise due to human activities or natural phenomena, leading to structural changes and disruptions in the balance of the natural environment1. Ecological issues can be local — deforestation, soil degradation, natural environment pollution, etc., as well as global — climate change, ozone layer depletion, and World ocean pollution, etc. As a result of numerous unresolved environmental issues, an ecological crisis arises. The ecological crisis occurs when individuals, society, and governments fail to prevent the degradation of the natural environment. There is a belief that humanity ruthlessly exploits natural resources to ensure a prosperous life, economic development and security, but on the other hand, the exploitation of nature leads to poverty, economic crisis, migration of people and political instability. For example, forests are cut down for industrial purposes, construction, and to meet essential living conditions․ However, deforestation leads to soil degradation, the loss of fertile humus layers, the drying up of water sources, riverbed damage, landslides, biodiversity loss, reduced oxygen production, and diminished capacity for absorbing atmospheric pollutants—all of which negatively affect human health. As a result, once-forested areas turn into deserts and become unfavorable for habitation, where poverty, as well as the number of diseases and mortality increase, people migrate, the economic and political situation of the country becomes unstable. We can see a similar picture in other cases of ruthless exploitation of nature: mining, construction of hydroelectric power plants, overgrazing of pastures, etc. Thus, the ecological crisis causes economic, social, demographic, political and security crises. It negatively affects people’s health, especially women and children. As a result of climate change and environmental pollution, people’s health is deteriorating, diseases appear at younger ages and new illnesses emerge. In many countries it is impossible to ensure the sanitary and epidemiological safety of the population because of water shortages and pollution, as a result of which epidemics of infectious diseases and population mortality are increasing. An economy based on the intensive exploitation of natural resources is short-term and unsustainable. It does not ensure the well-being of society, on the contrary, it damages ecosystems and increases poverty. Smaller and economically weaker countries are particularly vulnerable. The economic policy of these countries should be aimed at conserving and preserving the country’s natural resources, developing an innovative, science-based and resource-saving economy. Preventing ecological disasters is crucial, as it requires far fewer resources than dealing with man-made and natural disasters and eliminating their consequences.
In various countries around the world, interstate conflicts and wars are often instigated to seize control of natural resources, frequently exploiting environmental issues or being disguised by them. Nearly all current wars are natural resource-driven, aiming to gain control over the natural resources of other countries—water, oil, gold, and other valuable minerals—as well as to expand their environmental and food security zones.
Recently, a new term has been used in literature— “environmental warfare”2. It refers to military actions carried out with the deliberate destruction or alteration of the environment to repel an enemy attack, hinder or obstruct the opponent, or harm human health3.
Typically, environmental warfare is not only expressed through active military operations but can also be carried out through other means. In the context of wars, the fact is often overlooked that, in addition to irreversible human losses, any war also causes the irreversible destruction of natural ecosystems. The consequences of environmental warfare are more difficult to eliminate, in many cases even impossible, than those of conventional warfare. As a result, in such wars, the damages to the state and society many times exceed any possible benefits.
In these cases, the “vicious circle” principle is always at play—conflicts over natural resources lead to wars, during which nature and its resources are destroyed, simultaneously causing irreversible human losses, economic collapse, and political crises.
During the Second Karabakh War, natural objects such as water basins, springs, forests, and pastures were also targeted. Azerbaijan used phosphorus weapons, which burned large forested areas, endangering the lives and health of civilians hiding there from the war, destroying entire forest biodiversity, and polluting the soil, water, and air4.
Unfortunately, ecocide has not yet been recognized as an international crime and is not prosecuted by the International Criminal Court5. However, international lawyers are working to have ecocide recognized as the fifth international crime6.
Ecocide is considered a crime under the Criminal Codes of several countries, including the Republic of Armenia, and strict punishment is envisaged for it7.
Unfortunately, in international relations, environmental issues are exploited by different countries in order to solve their narrow political problems. Meanwhile, nature has no borders and it is the duty of every individual, society and state to preserve it for present and future generations.
Given this reality and the ongoing ecological and political processes worldwide, Armenia must develop an environmental strategy, a national program and a plan to prevent, overcome and eliminate the consequences of ecological crises, as well as establish an independent and stable life-support system for the country.
Usually, in many countries, including Armenia, they are guided by economic interests, ignoring the ruthless use of natural resources, pollution and littering of nature, illegal deforestation and other ecological problems that arise as a result of the irregular development of certain branches of economic activity, in particular, mining, energy, urban planning, etc. However, sustainable and promising economic development, national security, and the well-being of the population cannot be achieved at the expense of damage and destruction of nature. This, inevitably, leads to great losses — ecological, economic, security, social, and demographic crises.
In the conditions of scarce land resources in Armenia, the lands are degraded as a result of illegal deforestation, irregular grazing, and salinization. Only 54.5% of Armenia’s agricultural land is cultivated8, which is unacceptable in our case. Armenia has a food security and self-sufficiency problem. It is necessary to effectively use all agricultural lands, applying climate change adaptation mechanisms, innovative methods of agricultural development and raising the awareness and self-sufficiency of the rural population by supporting them. The agricultural sector of the country must aim at ensuring full food security for the population, as well as at obtaining economic benefits. It is necessary to support the farmer so that ecologically clean, high-calorie and high-value plant species that provide the diet of the given family are grown in each household plot in an effective agricultural way. Additionally, effective livestock farming systems should be introduced.
An independent and stable alternative energy supply system should be developed for the country and each household (e.g., solar and wind energy, briquette production). An energy-saving system should be introduced (e.g., the use of perlite and other insulators during construction, thermal insulation of houses, lighting with energy-saving lamps, the use of thermoses at home and in public catering establishments, promotion of the use of electric vehicles, etc.).
A constantly replenished national reserve fund of essential resources—food, fuel, medicine, seeds, and other vital supplies—should be established. The population of Armenia must be well-informed and prepared to face all challenges, acting without panic in any crisis situation.
Water resources should be used effectively and under strict control, preventing water pollution and overuse, while providing the population with sufficient clean drinking water.
In the context of climate change, it is necessary to prevent illegal deforestation and increase the country’s forest cover to the level set by our international obligations.
Thus, to address modern challenges, we must preserve our country’s ecosystems as the main means of life support and a promising economy, fulfill our obligations under international treaties – not to harm the nature of our country and planet Earth, create an effective independent life support system for our country, strengthen our defense capabilities, and be ready to face all challenges without major losses.
Sources
- V.A. Analysis of Global Environmental Problems, RAS, Moscow, 2011.
- Fakron, Malik M. A. (2024). “Environmental Warfare Operation Principles”. Applied Sciences Research Periodicals. 2 (2): 10–15. Retrieved 2024-03-14.-*
- Gary E. Machlis, Thor Hanson (2008) Warfare Ecology. BioScience, Volume 58, Issue 8, September 2008, Pages 729–736, https://doi.org/10.1641/B580809
- “The Azerbaijanis are Carrying Out Large-Scale Deforestation in the Shikahogh Reserve, Surrounding Nerkin Hand from Three Sides.” Aravot Newspaper, 28.09.2024, https://www.aravot.am/2024/09/28/1445835/
© 1998 – 2024 Առավոտ – Լուրեր Հայաստանից - .International Criminal Court. https://www.icc-cpi.int/about/the-court
- .Ecocide could become the fifth international crime . RBC Trends . Accessed: August 16, 2021. Archived August 16, 2021
- Article 154, Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia https://www.arlis.am/documentview.aspx?docID=153080
- “On the Approval of the Concept and Action Plan for Increasing the Efficiency of Agricultural Land Use” Decision No. 68-L of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, dated 23.01.2020. https://www.arlis.am/DocumentView.aspx?DocID=138498
