GUIDELINES ON THE PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IN ARMED CONFLICT - Advance Copy

Oct 22, 2026

Uploaded by Pentious

Guidelines on protecting the natural environment during armed conflict set out rules and recommendations grounded in international humanitarian law, accompanied by commentary. The text organizes protections into specific measures for military operations and general protections linked to civilian character, specially protected objects, and enemy property. It covers prohibitions on widespread, long-term and severe damage, attacks by way of reprisal, and the destruction of the environment not justified by imperative military necessity, plus related precautions and passive precautions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages130

Reading Time5 h 28 min

AccessFree to download

Foreword

Acknowledgements

Abbreviations

Summary of rules and recommendations

Introduction

Preliminary considerations on the protection of the natural environment under international humanitarian law

PART I: SPECIFIC PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT UNDER INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW

Rule 1 – Due regard for the natural environment in military operations

Rule 2 – Prohibition of widespread, long-term and severe damage to the natural environment

Rule 3 – Prohibition of using the destruction of the natural environment as a weapon

Rule 4 – Prohibition of attacking the natural environment by way of reprisal

PART II: GENERAL PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT UNDER INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW

Section 1. Protection afforded to the natural environment as civilian in character

Section 2. Protection afforded to the natural environment by rules on specially protected objects

Section 3. Protection afforded to the natural environment as a civilian object by rules on enemy property

Section 4. Additional protections for the natural environment under international humanitarian law

REFERENCE GUIDELINES ON THE PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IN ARMED CONFLICT RULES AND RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO THE PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT UNDER INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW, WITH COMMENTARY ADVANCE COPY GUIDELINES ON THE PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IN ARMED CONFLICT RULES AND RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO THE PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT UNDER INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW, WITH COMMENTARY ADVANCE COPY Table of contents Foreword ................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Acknowledgements.................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Abbreviations ........................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Summary of rules and recommendations.............................................................................................................................. 7 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................ 11 Preliminary considerations on the protection of the natural environment under international humanitarian law ..... 15 PART I: SPECIFIC PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT UNDER INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 27 Rule 1 – Due regard for the natural environment in military operations .............................................................................27 Rule 2 – Prohibition of widespread, long-term and severe damage to the natural environment ............................ 29 Rule 3 – Prohibition of using the destruction of the natural environment as a weapon ............................................... 40 Rule 4 – Prohibition of attacking the natural environment by way of reprisal................................................................. 44 PART II: GENERAL PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT UNDER INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 46 Section 1. Protection afforded to the natural environment as civilian in character by the principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions ........................................................................................................................................... 46 Rule 5 – Principle of distinction between civilian objects and military objectives ...........................................................47 Rule 6 – Prohibition of indiscriminate attacks ...............................................................................................................................50 Rule 7 – Proportionality in attack........................................................................................................................................................ 53 Rule 8 – Precautions ................................................................................................................................................................................ 56 Rule 9 – Passive precautions ................................................................................................................................................................ 60 Section 2. Protection afforded to the natural environment by the rules on specially protected objects other than the natural en

FAQs

What legal framework do these guidelines rely on for protecting the natural environment?

They are based on rules and recommendations relating to the protection of the natural environment under international humanitarian law, with commentary included.

Which conduct does the document prohibit regarding damage to the natural environment?

It sets out prohibitions on widespread, long-term and severe damage to the natural environment, and also prohibits destruction of the natural environment not justified by imperative military necessity.

How is general protection structured in the guidelines?

General protection is organized by the civilian character of the environment (distinction, proportionality and precautions), protections linked to specially protected objects, rules concerning enemy property, and additional protections under international humanitarian law.

Oct 22, 2026

Uploaded by Pentious