Environmental Destruction, Peace and Security: Challenges and Pathways to Global Sustainability

Abstract

The world’s natural resources have recently been affected by environmental exploitation for purposes of technology, consumption patterns and the repercussions of armed conflicts. Environmental conservation has thus become indispensable in the face of the continuous depletion of natural resources. Environmental damage has been increasingly associated with insecurity and unrest, creating a double jeopardy. This double jeopardy manifests in that, humanity is sure of one consequence regardless of which source it evolves; a state of uncertainty as concerns human civilization, wellbeing, peace and livelihoods. The trend seems to be that governments are opting for development over environmental sustainability, and not trying to reconcile both. Indeed, environmental destruction raises a lot of questions on any government’s ability to ensure a smooth distribution of assets to their compatriots, sustainably. It becomes clear that there is an urgent need for engagement and cooperation from all sectors: peace, security and environment to ensure stability. Obviously, with the depletion of natural resources comes a host of other adversities. Peace becomes threatened as there might be various conflicts wired by survival, communities fighting over natural resources. Security also becomes threatened. Hence, there is a change in the normal pattern of natural provision for livelihood. There has been a great development of existing laws, principles, and regulations that address environmental protection. These laws are vast and yet, have not succeeded in addressing the problem. Thus, a global approach of cooperation is imperative between states to adopt alternative measures at balancing environmental exploitation and protection.