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
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
Peace-building in Sierra LeonePeace-building in Sierra Leone
Overview
Since the start of the millennium over 35 major conflicts and some 2,500 disasters have affected billions of people around the world.
Peace-building in Sierra LeonePeace-building in Sierra Leone
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.
Assessing conflict risks in the exploitation and management of natural resources
Assessing conflict risks in the exploitation and management of natural resources
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.
Assessing conflict risks in the exploitation and management of natural resources
Case study in Africa
Assessing conflict risks in the exploitation and management of natural resources
Peace-building in Sierra LeonePeace-building in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone conflict – 1991-2002
http://www.unep.org/sierraleone
Resources: o Diamondso Cocoao Coffee
Peace-building in Sierra LeonePeace-building in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
1999 – Revolutionary United Front earned an estimated US$70 million from diamonds
Peace-building in Sierra LeonePeace-building in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
o 70,000 combatants demobilized
o 3 peaceful transfers of power
Peace-building in Sierra LeonePeace-building in Sierra Leone
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
Peace-building in Sierra LeonePeace-building in Sierra Leone
Lessons learned
Peace-building in Sierra LeonePeace-building in Sierra Leone
Lessons learned
• Develop a set environmental standards
• Educate decision makers and stakeholders
• Monitor activity and enforce environmental and social laws
• Educate and involve
Peace-building in Sierra LeonePeace-building in Sierra Leone
“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