Today is World Environment Day

On 5 June, the world marks World Environment Day, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972. This day aims to draw attention to environmental challenges and remind us that the future of the planet depends not only on decisions made by governments and international organisations, but also on the everyday responsibility of each of us.

For Ukraine, environmental protection is currently an especially painful and urgent issue. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the war has caused significant damage to the natural environment: forests and ecosystems are being destroyed, soils, rivers, and wetlands are being polluted, and protected natural areas are being damaged. In times of war, caring for the environment is not only an environmental issue, but also a matter of safety, public health, preservation of natural heritage, and the future of the country.

International humanitarian law contains rules aimed at protecting the natural environment during armed conflict. In particular, the provisions of Additional Protocol I to the 1949 Geneva Conventions prohibit methods and means of warfare that may cause widespread, long-term, and severe damage to the natural environment. In addition, parties to a conflict must take care to protect the environment from such damage during military operations.

At the same time, Ukrainian legislation provides for criminal liability for ecocide. Under Article 441 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, ecocide includes the mass destruction of flora or fauna, poisoning of the atmosphere or water resources, as well as other actions that may lead to an environmental disaster.

The Ukrainian Red Cross continues to promote knowledge of international humanitarian law, including the protection of the natural environment during armed conflict.