Bringing environment into security discourses is easier then anchoring security in environment discourses - at least at the United Nations (UN). This is one key conclusion of the joint swisspeace-ETH Zurich paper "Linking Environment and Conflict Prevention - The Role of the United Nations".

Dividing environmental conflicts into direct, indirect and complex resource conflicts, the authors assess the strengths and weaknesses of the UN system against this categorisation. One of their results is that the environment and particularly the climate agenda is already too overloaded to take on another issue like security. However, in the realm of peace and security, the UN already has experiences on the role of environment and resources in conflict transformation. Conflict prevention remains thereby underdeveloped: The focus is mostly on conflict management and post-conflict reconstruction. Another central problem is the UN approach of segregating instead of integrating topics. While there are specialised organisations to deal with environment, trade, development and peace, there is little horizontal integration between these organisations.

With a view to future conflict potentials resulting from climate change and increasing environmental degradation and resource consumption, the authors suggest a bundle of 26 measures. Particularly noteworthy are the suggestions for improving horizontal integration and cooperation within the UN systems. This includes among others training of UN mediators in environmental affairs, the improved preparation and provision of environmental information and expertise, and establishing "Environment and Natural Resources Management Units" within UN missions to facilitate horizontal coordination. (Achim Maas)

The report is available at http://www.swisspeace.ch/typo3/en/publications/index.html

 

Published in: ECC-Newsletter, August 2008