United Nations Environment Programme Study Guide to read

7/27/2019 United Nations Environment Programme Study Guide to read

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To cherish what remains of theEarth and to foster its renewal is ouronly legitimate hope of survival."

- Wendell Berry
http://www.betterworldheroes.com/berry-wendell.htmhttp://www.betterworldheroes.com/berry-wendell.htm


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Dear Delegates,

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Human Rights Council of the

Government Law College Model United Nations Conference 2013. At

GLCMUN, we attempt to bring together students from varied areas of study andengage them in discussions having a global nature and by stimulating onesthought process with an aim of resolving some of the most pertinent

international issues with due regard to the institution of the United Nations.

The United Nations Environment Programme in the past has had some of the

finest debates of the conference, and the delegate experience is truly unmatched.

UNEP will push you to rethink what has been accepted previously, and engage

your skills of negotiation in order to ultimately balance international

cooperation with your own national interests.

It is my sincere hope that GLCMUN 2013 proves itself to be a great learning

experience and that you depart with a greater understanding of international

affairs.

Welcome aboard! Please feel free to contact us in case if you have any queriesor questions.

Discuss! Debate! Deliberate!

Sincerely,

Aadya BajpaiAadya Bajpai,

General Secretary,

Model United Nations Society,

Government Law College,Mumbai.


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Dear Delegates,

It gives me immense pleasure to welcome you to Government Law College

Model United Nations 2012-13. My name is Sulekha Agarwal, and I am pleased

to serve as your Under-Secretary-General for Research.

The Research team has been working tirelessly for many months in order to put

together the study guides for the five committees that will be offered at

GLCMUN this year. The five committees include: The Special committee of

Envoys, The Historical Security Council, The Economic and Social Council,

The Human Rights Council and the United Nations Environment Programme.

The conference provides you the unique opportunity to address the problems in

a unique and innovative manner and analyse the situation from myriad

perspectives. I hope you will take advantage of this unique opportunity and

expand your horizons through your discussions in committee.

I sincerely hope that the Study Guide proves to be beneficial for you and helps

you in perceiving the problem thoroughly so that you can have a fruitful debate

during the three days of the conference. If you have any questions, comments,

or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at any time.

Good luck for your preparations and hope you enjoy the conference.

Sincerely,

Sulekha AgarwalSulekha Agarwal,Under-Secretary General,

Model United Nations Society,

Government Law College,

Mumbai.


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CONTENTS

Description and Mandate of United Nations Environment Programme

PART 1SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF WAR DEBRIS

1. What does War Debris mean?2. War Debris and its aftermath3. Conclusion

PART 2ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS DUE TO THE DISPLACEMENT AND

REHABILITAION OF WAR REFUGEES

1. Various effects of displacement and rehabilitation of war refugees2. Different kinds of refugees3. Composition of refugees created by Arab Spring and especially the

Syrian crisis

4. Environmental issues arising due to the presence of refugees from theSyrian Crisis

5. Situation in neighbouring countries affected by the presence of refugees6. UNHCRS planned response for the future7. Questions a resolution must answer


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DESCRIPTION AND MANDATE OF UNEP

ABOUT UNEPUnited Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the voice of the

environment within the United Nations system at the global and regional level.Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus

by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues

to the attention of governments and the international community for

consideration and action1.

It coordinates United Nations environmental activities, assisting developingcountries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices. It was

founded as a result of the United Nations Conference on the Human

Environment in June 1972 and has its headquarters in the Gigiri neighbourhood

of Nairobi, Kenya. UNEP also has six regional offices and various country

offices.

Its activities cover a wide range of issues regarding the atmosphere, marine and

terrestrial ecosystems, environmental governance and green economy. It has

played a significant role in developing international environmental conventions,

promoting environmental science and information and illustrating the way those

can be implemented in conjunction with policy, working on the development

and implementation of policy with national governments, regional institutions in

conjunction with environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).UNEP has also been active in funding and implementing environment related

development projects.

UNEP has aided in the formulation of guidelines and treaties on issues such asthe international trade in potentially harmful chemicals, trans-boundary air

pollution, and contamination of international waterways.

The World Meteorological Organization and UNEP established the Inter-

governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 1988. UNEP is also one ofseveral Implementing Agencies for the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and

the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol, and it isalso a member of the United Nations Development Group. The International

Cyanide Management Code, a program of best practice for the chemicals use atgold mining operations, was developed under UNEPs aegis.

1United Nations Environment Programme for Development, Governmentresources website. http://www.unep.org/resources/gov/mandate.asp


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UNEPs mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caringfor the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples

to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.

UNEPs responsibilities include: Promoting international cooperation in the field of the environment and

recommending appropriate policies.

Catalysing action to address major environmental threats.

Monitoring the status of the global environment and gathering anddisseminating environmental information.

Facilitating the coordination of United Nations activities on mattersconcerned with the environment, and ensuring, through cooperation,

liaison and participation, that their activities take environmental

considerations into account. Helping, upon request, environment ministries and other environmental

authorities, in particular in developing countries and countries with

economies in transition, to formulate and implement environmental

policies.

Helping to develop international environmental law.

Providing expert advice on the development and use of environmentalconcepts and instruments.

Developing regional programmes for the environment.

The major results of UNEP activities should include:

International arrangements to enhance environmental protection andpolicy advice to governments, multilateral organisations and others to

strengthen environmental protection and incorporate the environment into

the sustainable development process.

Periodic assessments and scientifically sound forecasts to supportdecision making and international consensus on the main environmentalthreats and responses to them.

More effective coordination of environmental matters within the UnitedNations system.

Greater public awareness and capacity for environmental managementand effective national and international responses to environmental

threats2.

2United Nations Environment Programme for Development, Government

resources website. http://www.unep.org/resources/gov/mandate.asp


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PART ONE

SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF WAR DEBRIS

A street in Damascus ravaged by the Syrian Civil War

WHAT DOES WAR DEBRIS MEAN?

In the aftermath of a war, large areas of the region of conflict are often strewn

with war debris in the form of abandoned or destroyed hardware and vehicles,mines, unexploded ordnance, bullet casings and other fragments of metal.

Much war debris has the potential to be lethal and continues to kill and maim

civilian populations for years after the end of a conflict. The risks from war

debris may be sufficiently high to prevent or delay the return of refugees. Inaddition war debris may contain hazardous chemicals or radioactive

components that can contaminate the land or poison civilians who come into

contact with it. Many Mine clearance agencies are also involved in the clearanceof war debris.

Land mines in particular are very dangerous as they can remain active fordecades after a conflict, which is why they have been banned by international

war regulations.


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In November 2006 the Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War3 came into

effect with 92 countries subscribing to the treaty that requires the parties

involved in a conflict to assist with the removal of unexploded ordnance

following the end of hostilities.4

Some of the countries most affected by war debris are Afghanistan, Angola,Cambodia, Iraq and Laos. Similarly, military debris may be found in and

around firing ranges and military training areas. Debris can also be used

as cover for military purposes, depending on the situation.

3 "Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War (Protocol V to the 1980

Convention)", International Committee of the Red Cross, 2003, Retrieved 2006-

06-204 "War Debris Treaty To Come Into Force in November", Defense News, 2006,Retrieved 2006-06-20


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WAR DEBRIS AND ITS AFTERMATH

The Arab Spring movement has radically changed the political landscape of the

Middle East and North Africa. At this critical juncture many are asking

questions about the impact these change will have on environmental issues inthe region.

There have been regime changes in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya in addition to

uprising in Syria, Yemen, Bahrain, Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco,

Oman and Saudi Arabia. The misuse of natural resources and corruption was

one of the factors fuelling the uprisings in Arab states.

The Arab world is at a pivotal juncture not only politically but due to the

numerous environmental problems that threaten the region. Among the major

challenges being faced are water scarcity, land degradation and desertification,

inadequate waste management, coastal and marine environment degradation and

air pollution. Many Arab states will need to develop ways of decentralizing

power to help them use natural resources in a more sustainable manner.

A report was published to this effect and was compiled and authored by

independent experts from across the Arab region. It offered an overview of the

state of the environment in the Arab world, highlighting environmental

challenges, social, political and demographic trends progress in regional and

sub-regional co-operation and recommendations for future action.

The report attempted to address five key questions:

1) How were the environmental conditions in the Arab world changing?2) What were the causes of environmental deterioration, and how was it linked

to human activities and other stresses?

3) Why was the environment a significant issue in the Arab world?

4) What was being done about it? How was society responding to the issues

through public and private institutions?5) Were the measures taken to limit environmental degradation and

determination of the ecosystems enough?

The report recommended long-term planning which included an emphasis on

renewable energy. It stressed the importance of simple measures at the local

level to ensure more efficient and sound use of resources.

The report reviewed issues like integrating the environment into development

planning. It dealt with specific issues like urbanization, air quality, waterresources, marine environment, waste management, aridity drought and


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desertification.

Two of the most pressing concerns for the region were addressed in chapters on

and the impact of climate change on Arab countries and the environmental

impact of conflict and wars. Environmental legislation, media, education andfinancing were also addressed.

The Arab region produces some 250,000 tons of solid waste every day, with

most of it ending untreated in makeshift dumps. Less than 20% is properly

treated or disposed of in landfills, and no more than 5% is recycled. The per

capita production of municipal solid waste in some Arab cities, such as Kuwait,Riyadh, and Abu Dhabi, is over 1.5 kg per day, making it one of the highest

levels in the world. Furthermore, parts of the Arab region that are undergoing

rapid economic development and urbanisation are also producing a lot of

demolition and construction waste. Therefore, a by-product of increasing

economic development, and prosperity, is that per capita waste production

levels are increasing.

Reports have identified a number of weaknesses of waste management in the

Arab region. In some countries, a significant proportion of the waste produced

is not collected. In Egypt, for example, it is estimated that 35% of municipal

solid waste is not systematically collected. Another issue is the improper

handling, collection, and treatment of hazardous wastes originating from

agricultural, industrial, medical, and urban activities.

In this regard, however, documents recognize a number of promising initiatives

that are being undertaken in the Arab region, such as legislative initiatives in the

GCC, Egypt, and Oman, as well as investments into facilities that can separateand handle hazardous wastes, and an increased private sector investment in

recycling industries, especially in Saudi Arabia and UAE.


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CONCLUSION

At the beginning of the 21st century, it is clear that the most salient issue facing

the world today is that of the environment. Environmental problems have

featured heavily in scientific warnings, political agendas, public concern, andmedia attention. The Arab region is not isolated from the rest of the world whenit comes to this topic.

The Arab world has undergone huge changes in the last century. Its population

has risen from below 50 million a century ago to over 325 million today. During

this same period, the environment has deteriorated and natural resources havedwindled, due to development patterns which were largely unsustainable. In

most cases, policies were overwhelmingly sets of provisional short-term

measures, meant to tackle momentary challenges rather than engage in long-

term planning. Some parts of the region have seen unprecedented growth,

bringing both economic and social prosperity to millions of Arabs during the

last decades, thanks, largely, to the rising income from oil.

Has this economic development, however, come at a cost? Can the patterns of

development which some Arab countries are experiencing continue, while

sustaining livelihood and quality of life for future generations?

In addition to long standing list of components of environmental destruction,

war debris has just added on posing an even greater threat due to the increasingfriction in the Arab world and its gullibility to civil wars in the process of which

an immeasurable amount of toxic wastes are generated.

Today, the state of the Arab environment stands at a pivotal juncture, withnumerous environmental problems both current and imminent threatening the

region. At the same time, awareness of the issues, as well as signs of political

and social willingness to act, provide hope for timely intervention.


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PART TWO

ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS DUE TO THE DI SPLACEMENT AND

REHABI LI TAION OF WAR REFUGEES

Refugees fleeing Syria

Various effects of displacement and rehabilitation of war refugees

Man is both [a] creature and moulders of his environment, which gives himphysical sustenance and affords him the opportunity for intellectual, moral,

social and spiritual growth. In the long and tortuous evolution of the human

race on this planet a stage has been reached when, through the rapid

acceleration of science and technology, man has acquired the power totransform his environment in countless ways and on an unprecedented scale.

Both aspects of man's environment, the natural and the man-made, are essential

to his well-being and to the enjoyment of basic human rights the right to life

itself.-Thomas (1956) book, Man's Role in Changing the Face

of the Earth

The last sentence of the quote above implies that humankind cannot and does

not simply mess with the environment; if anything, circumstances may

inadvertently force humankind to damage the environment, but the rule of

thumb is for humankind to conserve it for sustained survival. Students ofenvironment and consumers of their work construe the term within their

disciplinary province: biological scientists underline the natural environment,

consisting of biotic and abiotic features; regional scientists and those focusing


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on urbanisation underpin settlement, in which agriculture dominates the rural

part as non-agricultural activity typifies the urban component; economists

emphasize the economic milieu; political scientists emphasize governance

issues; sociologists underscore human ecology; and human security analysts

consider environmental hazards and human induced occurrences such as warsand ethnic strife. For a term attracting students from a variety of disciplines, it isutopian to expect unanimity in methods, data and analytical approaches of

studying it. In the same vein, it is difficult for planners and policy makers and,

indeed an array of their development partners, to prescribe straightforward

solutions to environmental issues, problems and opportunities that keep

changing from time to time.

An equally attracting prospect for the analysts from a variety of disciplines is

the term displaced persons. Seemingly, the better known concepts refugee andinternally displaced persons (IDPs) have become too commonplace to require

serious attention. Yet it has recently dawned on analysts that there is

controversy surrounding the definitions and complexity of these displaced

persons. UNHCR collapsed elements both of the United Nations Convention

Relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951 and the United Nations Protocol

Relating to the Status of Refugees of 1967, to define a refugee as any person

who-

owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion,

nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, isoutside the country of his nationality and us unable or, owing to such fear,

unwilling to avail himself of protection of that country; or who, not having a

nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a

result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to

it.

As that definition applied more to the immediate post-War Europe when much

of Africa was still under colonial rule, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU)

(1969) crafted the Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of RefugeeProblems in Africa, in which Article 1, recognising the United Nationsdefinition, underlines that the term refugee shall also apply to-

Every person who, owing to external aggression, occupation, foreign

domination or events seriously disturbing public order in either part or the

whole of his country of origin or nationality, is compelled to leave his place of

habitual residence in order to seek refuge in another place outside his countryof origin or nationality


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Both the United Nations and the OAU positions underscore the human factor

and conveniently ignore environmental factors which the definitions excluded

or failed to envision. This implies that the victims of environmental hazards do

not attract as much attention of the UNHCR and the OAU (AU since 2001) as

do conventional refugees and IDPs who have dominated intra and extra-Africanmigration for several decades (Oucho, 1996, 2002).

5

5 O. Oucho, Prof. John. Environmental Impact of Refugees and Internallydisplaced persons, published in 2010,

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/crer/afrobrain/oucho/publications/environmental_impact_of_refugees_and_internally_di.pdf


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Different kinds of refugees

Under the single umbrella term of refugee, there are currently 43 differenttypes, with a combination of nine different statuses and eleven different

categories. Policies, strategies and services often work to include all types ofrefugee, in an extremely complex policy.

The legal status of a refugee is important to refugee integration as it determines

the period of time a refugee can remain in a particular country. Status is also the

main determinant for a range of entitlements relating to: housing, health,

education, benefits, employment, travel, political rights, family reunion,settlement and citizenship.

Category determines if they are entitled to Integration Support. Refugees do not

necessarily choose which status or category they belong to, but this can have a

significant impact upon their life as a refugee. For example, Asylum Decision

refugees are in this category because their case has been resolved by the HomeOffice whereas Case Resolution refugees are in a different category only

because their case has remained unresolved. Subsequently they are granteddifferent statuses which affect the period of leave to remain in a country, and

entitlements such as rights to family reunion, accessing further and higher

education, and whether or not they receive Integration Support Services.

The effect of different entitlements and integration support has not beenresearched, and remains unclear. Further research is needed to understand the

effects of these policies, and which entitlements and support have the greatest

impact upon refugee integration.


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Composition of refugees created by Arab Spring and especially the Syrian

crisis

With the advent of the Arab spring, nationals began to flee their countries for

fear of violence and persecution. Amongst all countries where Arab springspread its claws, Syria accounts for the maximum number of refugees. Toescape the violence, tens of thousands of newly created refugees fled their

country of origin to neighbouring states like Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and

Iraqi Kurdistan.

In August 2012, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR)reported that the number of registered Syrian refugees had reached over

200,000, exceeding the UNHCR estimate of 185,000 for the entire year. Also

according to the United Nations, 2.5 million people inside Syria needed help

and about 1.5 million Syrians were internally displaced because of the Syrian

civil war.6

The Syrian refugee problem began in April 2011, when the Syrian government

used lethal force to crackdown on anti-government protests. The flow of

refugees intensified with the military siege of Talkalah and the military siege of

Jisr al Shughour. As a result of these military actions, thousands of Syrian

citizens fled across the border to Lebanon and Turkey. By early July 2011,

15,000 Syrian citizens had taken shelter in tent cities, set near Turkeys borderwith. By late June 2011, the number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon had reachedaround 10,000 people. By mid-July 2011, the first Syrian refugees found

sanctuary in Jordan, with numbers reaching 1,500 by December.7

In early 2012, the number of Syrian refugees swelled to some 20,000 UNHCRregistered refugees in Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan, with possibly 10,000 more

being unregistered. In the April 2012 offensive by the Syrian Army the flow of

refugees into Turkey reached a peak, with as many as 5,100 refugees

entering. The number of Syrian refugees in Turkey reached 23,835 by 6

April. In Ankara, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu demanded thatAssad keep his promise to cease military operations, while demanding action by

the international community and the UN if more refugees came

6Wood,Paul Syria crisis : Despair of refugees in Atma camp, 26th November,2011.7Wood,Paul Syria crisis : Despair of refugees in Atma camp, 26th November,2011.


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The numbers of refugees created by this entire event are certainly alarming.

People don't want to go back at any cost. Many have experienced terrible

ordeals.8

8Wood,Paul Syria crisis : Despair of refugees in Atma camp, 26th November,2011.


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Environmental issues arising due to the presence of refugees from the

Syrian Crisis

The influx of thousands and thousands of refugees into the neighbouring

countries of Syria, due to the Syrian Crisis has caused a lot of potential damageto the environment. The sudden arrival of large numbers of people in a smallarea can place significant pressure on the local environment. Refugees and

internally displaced people (IDP) often have no choice but to rely on natural

resources for their survival, particularly during an emergency. Trees may be cut

to build or support simple shelters, wood may be collected to cook meals or to

keep warm, and wild game, fruit, herbs and other plants might be gathered as asource of food or medicine. Unless controlled, these and related activities can

quickly get out of hand and have a negative impact on the environment as well

as the displaced and host populations.

Camps for displaced people are never meant to be permanent, though many

countries have hosted refugees or IDPs in the same place for several decades.

Strategies and actions need to be implemented that address key environmental

issues, prevent environmental degradation from taking place and help avoid

conflicts arising over competition for natural resources.9

Massive internal displacements from rural to urban centres, and significant

discontent among agriculture-dependent communities, are ill-explored factors of

social and political unrest in Syria.

Rural-urban population movements throughout the course of the recent droughts

have placed significant strains on Syrias economically-depressed cities, whichincidentally have their own water infrastructure deficiencies. Poor have beenforced to compete with poor not just for scarce employment opportunities, but

for access to water resources as well. According to a Damascus based expert,

Francesa de Chatel, Syria has experienced a huge deterioration of [water]availability per capita, partly as a result of a crumbling urban infrastructure. 10

Furthermore, the role of disaffected rural communities in the Syrian opposition

movement has been prominent compared to their equivalents in other ArabSpring countries. Indeed, the rural farming town ofDara was the focal pointfor protests in the early stages of the opposition movementa place that wasespecially hard hit by five years of drought and water scarcity, with little

assistance from the al-Assad regime.11

9 Looking after the land, http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49c3646c10a.html10Looking after the land, http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49c3646c10a.html11

Looking after the land, http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49c3646c10a.html


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The degree to which internal population displacement, and rural disaffection,

are driving unrest has been difficult to study, given the continuing instability,

but available evidence suggests that the influence of this phenomenon may not

be insignificant.

The Arab region faces growing challenges to the security of its population fromenvironmental stresses. Potential conflicts originating in competition for

dwindling natural resources may heavily strain relations among communities,

populations and states. These challenges will result from population and

demographic pressures, the overpopulation of land, water shortages,

desertification, pollution and climate change.12

An important factor is growing population pressures, the report says. According

to UN estimates, the Arab countries will be home to some 395 million people

by 2015 (compared to about 317 million in 2007, and 150 million in 1980). In a

region where water and arable land are shrinking, population growth at these

rates while falling, will still put intense pressures on the carrying capacity of

Arab countries lands and further threaten environmental sustainability.

Another factor, obviously linked to the growth in population, is urban growth,

which poses its own particular challenges. An accelerating drift to cities and

towns is straining already-overstretched infrastructure and creating

overcrowded, unhealthy and insecure living conditions in many Arab centres.13

The Arab region is a bridge linking three continents (Africa, Asia and Europe),

the crossroads where the first civilizations emerged and the cradle of prophets

and divine messages. It is the place that reflects the genius of space and the

nobility of time. Through its long history it has been a centre of creativity,coveted by many nations who have fought over its lands. It has suffered, yet still

its environment is generous.

Today it is suffering more than ever, due to increasing demand on natural

resources and pressures that exceed the capacity of the resources to regenerate.This is in spite of the considerable efforts of governments in the Arab region to

pursue development that is environmentally sustainable, to balance economicdevelopment on the one hand with the need to maintain a healthy environment

on the other, and to act according to sustainable development principles.

Despite these efforts, however, social and economic development in the Arab

communities has resulted in environmental problems. The environment and

12Looking after the land, http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49c3646c10a.html13 Morgan, David Environmental challenges for the Arab world, Published on28

thAugust, 2009.
http://www.english.globalarabnetwork.com/200908292430/Economics/environmental-challenges-for-the-arab-world.htmlhttp://www.english.globalarabnetwork.com/200908292430/Economics/environmental-challenges-for-the-arab-world.html


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ecosystems of countries in the Arab region are in a state of disorder and this

represents a threat to social stability and to the safety and well-being of their

citizens.

The following examples provide a glimpse of the current state of theenvironment in the Arab region. Population growth is the greatest challenge fordevelopment and environmental sustainability in the Arab region. It must be

brought in line with available resources and economic growth potential, so that

progress made is not swallowed up by uncontrolled population growth. On the

other hand, rational management of the available human resources could offer

opportunities for development of the region. Currently, the structure ofeconomic development in the region is not favourable to sustainable

development. It is time to rethink economic activities, and to recognize

environmental degradation as a cost that limits development opportunities,

whereas taking care of the environment brings large economic returns, more

than justifying investments in environment and its infrastructure.

Water ScarcityWater scarcity is a big challenge in the Arab region. There has been a worrying

decline in per capita water availability. Arab countries are now among most

water-scarce in the world. Water resources suffer from demand pressures,

irrational usage, increasing pollution and a dearth of policies and strategies for

integrated water management. As a result, concerns for both water and food

security in the long run are justified, particularly since water availability perinhabitant is expected to decrease to under 500 m3/year by the year 2025.

Unsustainable Management

Unsustainable management of land resources in the region, accompanied byexcessive population growth and increased levels of economic and social

activity, has led to significant changes in land-use patterns, which in turn makes

their sustainability very difficult to accomplish. The dangers of drought and

desertification threaten the region.

Ecosystem Destruction

Coastal and marine ecosystems, with their resources of inestimable value, strainunder pressures from human activities. Pollution, excessive urbanization and

unsustainable tourism have irreparably damaged much of the regions coastline,while at sea; overfishing, oil spills and pollution from maritime transport have

led to deterioration in fish stocks, the primary source of protein and income in

some of the Arab countries. Again, food security is further undermined andcoastal communities reliant on fishing face a real risk of impoverishment.


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BiodiversityBiodiversity in the Arab region is declining due to development pressures. In

the past thirty years, overexploitation of ecosystems in the region has caused a

loss of habitats, especially coastal and wetland habitats. This has caused a

decline in numbers and variety in many species, and has changed their naturalterritorial distribution. There are currently 1,084 endangered species in Arabcountries; 24 per cent of these are fish or marine life, 22 per cent are birds and

mammals account for a further 20 per cent.

Climate Change

Climate change represents an additional challenge to those already faced byArab countries in their efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals

(MDGs). Climate change could increase the risk and frequency of natural

disasters, and we must be prepared for them, with appropriate adaptation and

mitigation measures. The Arab region is predicted to be among the hardest hit

by the potential direct and indirect impacts of climate change, including loss of

coastal zones, more severe droughts and desertification, water scarcity,

increased groundwater salinity, and a surge in epidemics and infectious

diseases.

Agricultural production will be badly affected, with a drop in arable land and

vegetation cover and corresponding difficulties in securing food and water,

jeopardizing vital economic interests and food security. Migration of people

from affected areas to other centres will have social and security implications,and could lead to political crises. All of these factors impact negatively on

economic and social stability and development, which cannot bode well for

sustainable development.

Population Explosion

In many of the Arab countries, populations tend increasingly to concentrate in

urban centres, in cities and metropolises. This has exacerbated differences

between rural and urban, rich and poor, formal and informal settlements, and

highlighted inequalities in investment allocation for infrastructure and socialservices. Many large Arab cities have seen expansion in suburban areas, the

appearance of informal settlements, scattered poverty spots, environmentaldegradation and increased vulnerability to natural disasters. In most cases, these

cities lack adequate mechanisms and tools for modern urban planning and

management.14

14Environment Outlook for the Arab Region,http://eoar.cedare.int/report/Executive%20Summary%20English.pdf
http://eoar.cedare.int/report/Executive%20Summary%20English.pdfhttp://eoar.cedare.int/report/Executive%20Summary%20English.pdf


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Looking aheadThe al-Assad regimes brutally violent suppression of the opposition movementis rightly the main focus of attention for an international community attempting

to halt or lessen the human disaster unfolding in Syria. Unquestionably,

stopping the slaughter of innocent people is the necessary first step. But a morewell-rounded assessment of the dynamics of opposition in the country,including the possible social, environmental, and climatic drivers of unrest, will

help policy-makers and opinion leaders fashion more responsible actions. In the

short-term, stopping the violence and enhancing the likelihood of legitimate

government will require an intelligent assessment of the needs and demands of

the opposition movement, including those involving access to and managementof vital natural resources, such as food, water and arable land. In the long-term,

addressing the full gamut of Syrias societal, environmental and climatic illswill be critical for ensuring a resilient, free and conflict-proof nation one thatcan constructively engage in the international community.15

15Syria: Climate Change, Drought and Social Unrest, Published on 3rd March,2012


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Situation in neighbouring countries affected by the presence of refugees

Syrians taking refuge in neighbouring Turkey after fleeing their conflict-

stricken country say they do not want to return to Syria until the Syrian regime

is toppled and the 20-month-old conflict in Syria, which has killed thousands,has ended. According to interviews conducted by Ankara-based think tank theCentre for Middle Eastern Strategic Studies (ORSAM) with Syrian refugees

residing in the Reyhanl district of Hatay and the slahiye district of Gaziantep,most of the refugees fled their country after the conflict made life unbearable

for them. Many arrived with nothing more than the clothes on their backs and

are still traumatized by their experiences.

We are free in Turkey, but we are not in peace; we are in the depths of despair.My family does not want to live in the tent city. But, I don't know how much

longer we can afford to live in a rented apartment given the current conditions,says Gaddur Hashim Killi-Abu Aziz from the Hamdaniya neighborhood of

Aleppo who now lives in a rented apartment in the Reyhanl district ofHatay.16

This is the plight of the Syrian refugees who have taken shelter in the

neighbouring countries of Jordan, Lebanon, and Egypt to save themselves from

the onslaughts of the Assad regime.

The impact of refugees on the environmentRefugee settlements often occur in environmentally sensitive areas. In the Arab

countries, refugees have therefore usually been settled in semi-arid,

agriculturally marginal areas, near national parks or forest reserves. Refugee

camps tend to be large for both logistical and political reasons. These largecamps have a more negative impact on the environment than would be the case

if several considerably smaller camps, catering for the same total numbers, were

set up. Furthermore, refugees often have to stay in their countries of asylum for

extended periods, and the impact on the environment around camps may be

prolonged.

The impact of environmental deterioration on refugees and refugee-

affected populations

16 Refugees detail tragedy of Syrian crisis, 26th November 2012,http://www.todayszaman.com/news-299374-refugees-detail-tragedy-of-syrian-

crisis.html


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The impact of environmental deterioration on the refugees themselves is

intense. Low-quality water affects the health of large numbers of people, in a

situation where there is a high risk of infectious diseases multiplying rapidly.

Deforestation gradually forces women and children to walk further for wood,putting women in particular in danger of physical assault. Children may have tomiss school to help; cooking time is shortened, and drinking water not boiled.

Refugees may have to sell part of their food rations in order to obtain the fuel

needed to cook the remainder, contributing to increased levels of malnutrition.

Host populations also experience a similar deterioration in the quality of their

environment, so that normally available materials and supplies for construction,consumption and fuel are short, and prices for fuel and food in local markets

rise. Tensions inevitably result, since host populations are currently made to

bear many of the costs of the arrival of refugees in their area without immediate

compensation.17

17 Refugees detail tragedy of Syrian crisis, 26th November 2012,http://www.todayszaman.com/news-299374-refugees-detail-tragedy-of-syrian-

crisis.html


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UNHCRS planned response for the future

What does the UNHCR do?

Imagine yourself at a borderan invisible line separating the laws of onecountry from another, a line which, if crossed, will change your life, perhaps

forever. But crossed it must be. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions of

people, are forced to follow this path each year.18

And these are just a fraction of the world's 31.7 million refugees and other

persons of concern to UNHCR.

The spontaneous movement and displacement of large numbers of people may

have significant impacts on the environment. Arriving in an alien situation,

refugees face hunger, fatigue, humiliation and grief. Their first concern is to

look after themselves, most often to find food and shelter. Trees are felled to

provide support for rudimentary shelters. Dead wood is collected to build a fire

for warmth and as fuel for cooking.

With only a few families involved, the environmental impacts are unlikely to be

too serious or long-lasting. With thousands of desperate people, however, the

results can be disastrous for the environment. What is bad for the environment

is ultimately bad for human welfare.

Why Care for the Environment?Environmental problems exist throughout the world, but many reach an

exaggerated scale where large numbers of people are forced together through a

common sense of survival.

Among the most significant problems associated with refugee-affected areas are

deforestation, soil erosion, and depletion and pollution of water resources. Other

considerations which must be taken into account include changes in the social

and economic welfare of local communities following the arrival, or duringprolonged residency, of refugees. These too may impact the environment,

altering the rate and extent of local services available to peopletoday and inthe future.

UNHCR is aware of the potential environmental impact of refugees.

Competition for natural resources such as fuel wood, building materials, fresh

water and wild foods is an immediate concern. Environmental degradation orconflicts between refugees and resident populations may, if not addressed,

18Refugees and the environment, http://www.unhcr.org/3b039f3c4.html


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undermine the effectiveness of UNHCR's programmes and, equally important,

influence the future decision of governments to offer asylum to refugees.

Refugees, however, cannot be expected to put environmental considerations

ahead of their own safety and welfare. This is where UNHCR and otherorganisations lend a helping hand, helping confine the impact of refugees to aslow a level as possible and assisting host countries with rehabilitation and clean-

up operations.

Scale of Environmental ConcernsEnvironmental degradation is a worldwide phenomenonvirtually every nationon Earth is experiencing some form of habitat destruction or degradation.

On a global scale, the impact of refugees on the environment is not significant.

At the height of the refugee crisis in Tanzania in 1994-1996, a total of 570

square kilometres of forest was affected, of which 167 square kilometres was

severely deforested. An environmental impact assessment carried out in

Zimbabwe in 1994, when Mozambican refugees had returned to their

homelands, showed a reduction of 58 per cent in the woodland cover around

camps. Yet, countries like Cte d'Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of the

Congo experience higher levels of habitat loss each year through uncontrolled

logging and clearance of land for agriculture2,900 and 1,800 squarekilometres of forest per annum, respectively.

19

Such figures are not intended to dispute the fact that concentrated groups of

displaced people do have a negative impact on the environment, but merely to

help put things in perspective. For most countries, the loss of any forest cover

may be a major issue because of habitat degradation, the loss of ecosystemfunctioning and, often, reduced levels of income or a lower quality of life.

Reversing the loss or environmental damage in such a case is a costly and not

always practical solution. For this reason, limiting damage to the environment,

and preserving and promoting options for sustainable development remains of

concern to UNHCR.

UNHCR's ResponseUNHCR has become increasingly concerned about the state and well-being of

the environment around refugee camps and resettlement areas. Experience has

shown that the welfare of peoplewhether refugees or local inhabitantsisclosely linked with the well-being of the environment. In fact, the two cannot be

separated.

19Refugees and the environment, http://www.unhcr.org/3b039f3c4.html


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No two refugee situations are the same: some emergencies flare up overnight;

others build momentum gradually over a period of weeks or months. The

outcome, however, is inevitably the samelarge numbers of people forced toflee from their homes, abandoning their former lives, their possessions and,

often, their families and friends.

There is no uniform response to such needs: each refugee operation requires a

distinct approach, tailored to the specific conditions and requirements of that

time. Requirements for protecting the environment therefore vary from one

country to another and from one situation to another, depending on local social,

cultural and environmental conditions, as well as on opportunities andconstraints.

UNHCR's mandate is to protect the rights and dignity of refugees, a task it has

undertaken for almost half a century. In recent years, it has also taken steps to

safeguard the environment around refugee operations and to encourage

management of natural resources with a view to long-term sustainabilitya taskin which UNHCR plays an important co-ordinating role, drawing expertise and

assistance from other organisations.


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QUESTIONS THAT A RESOLUTION MUST ANSWER

1) What are the various impacts of the infiltration of the refugees due to theArab Spring?

2) What are the various environmental impacts caused by these refugees andwhat is the nature of these hazardous impacts?3) How can the hazardous impact on the environment due to these refugees

be tackled?

4) What is the nature of war debris caused due to Arab Spring?5) How can the problem of war residue be tackled effectively so as to

improve environmental conditions?

United Nations Environment Programme Study Guide to read

Documents

Transcript of United Nations Environment Programme Study Guide to read