Assessing threats in the exploitation and management of natural resources 22 March 2013 Fanina...

Assessing threats in the exploitation and management of natural resources

22 March 2013

Fanina Kodre-Alexander

UNEP

“Climate change not only exacerbates threats to international peace and security; it IS a threat to international peace and security”

- Ban Ki-Moon, UN Security Council, July 2011

Assessing threats in the exploitation and management of natural resources

The UN System Task Team on the Post-2015 UN Development Agenda stresses four core dimensions:

o environmental sustainabilityo inclusive social developmento inclusive economic development ando peace and security

Assessing conflict risks in the exploitation and management of natural resources


UNEP - 7 thematic priority areas:o Climate Changeo Disasters and Conflictso Ecosystems Managemento Environmental Governanceo Environment Under Reviewo Hazardous Waste and Harmful Substanceso Resource Efficiency

Peace-building in Sierra LeonePeace-building in Sierra Leone

Disasters and Conflicts core services:

o Disaster risk reductiono Post-crisis environmental

assessmentso Post-crisis environmental

recoveryo Environmental cooperation

for peace-building

Overview


Overview

Since the start of the millennium over 35 major conflicts and some 2,500 disasters have affected billions of people around the world.


Report: From Conflict to Peace-building:The Role of Natural Resources and the Environment. http://www.unep.org/ecp

UNEP’s goal is to ensure natural resources, environmental risks and opportunities are fully considered and integrated into sustainable development strategies.



Future trends:1.Increasing population growth and consumer consumption: demand for natural resources will continue to increase. 2.Increasing environmental degradation supply of natural resources will continue to decrease.3.Ministries of environment and overall governance of natural resources remain weak in many countries.4.Climate change as a threat multiplier, changing the distribution and supply of resources.Strong potential for increase in resource-based conflicts and environmentally induced migration.


Case study in Africa



Sierra Leone conflict – 1991-2002

http://www.unep.org/sierraleone

Resources: o Diamondso Cocoao Coffee


Sierra Leone

1999 – Revolutionary United Front earned an estimated US$70 million from diamonds


Sierra Leone

o 70,000 combatants demobilized

o 3 peaceful transfers of power


Sierra Leone: Mining - Tonkolili

• 2012 – 32% economic growth• 2 iron ore mines on stream

Sierra Leone

SIVA Group : 80,00ha

Socfin Agriculture Company : Malen 6,500ha

Sierra Leone: estimate 10-20% land to agribusiness


Lessons learned


Lessons learned

• Develop a set environmental standards

• Educate decision makers and stakeholders

• Monitor activity and enforce environmental and social laws

• Educate and involve


“Many of the risk factors for conflict that existed in the 1980s and 1990s have not been adequately addressed, most prominently in the environment and natural resources sector.”

Assessments and reports

• Sierra Leone: Environment, Conflict and Peace-building Assessment

• Central African Republic: Environment, Conflict and Peace-building Assessment

• From Conflict to Peace-building: The Role of Natural Resources and the Environment

• Greening the Blue Helmets: Environment, Natural Resources and UN Peacekeeping Operations

• Livelihood Security: Climate Change, Migration and Conflict in the Sahel

Available at: http://www.unep.org/disastersandconflicts

• Training Course on Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction for Sustainable Development (www.pedrr.net)

• Graduate Level Teaching Module on Disasters, Environment and Risk Reduction (ecoDRR) www.cnrd.info/index.php?teaching-material

UNEP courses

Assessing threats in the exploitation and management of natural resources 22 March 2013 Fanina...

Documents

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