|
|
| Conference | |
| About us Feedback Register Contact Advertise Editorial Finditforme | Publications Partners Links Discussions Quiz |
Channel Homepages
» Home
» Sustainable Business » Green Buildings » Contaminated Land » Water/Wastewater » Waste/Recycling » Energy/Carbon » edie Ireland » Resource Centres » Sustainabilitylive! Site SponsorTo see all site sponsors, click here
|
19 March 2009 Peacekeepers told to watch their ecological footprint picture courtesy of Evstafiev The environmental damage caused by wars is well documented but the drain on natural resources posed by peacekeepers is considered less often. This week the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) invited military and civilian aid experts to discuss the issues. It suggests that in post-conflict countries the demand for natural resources such as wood and water created by those who have gone to help can actually hinder recovery. However, through better planning and management practices UNEP claims this demand could be drastically reduced. Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP executive director, said: "The primary role of international peacekeeping forces and aid agencies is to keep the peace and support vulnerable communities during difficult and distressing times." "But they also have the responsibility to ensure that their presence and operations have a minimal ecological footprint and do not aggravate environmental degradation, which may be a dimension of the conflict." The meeting looked at concrete ways to improve the sustainability of peacekeeping and relief work, including the use of technology to improve water and energy efficiency and green building techniques to reduce the demand on natural resources. "There is a growing awareness of the need for action", said Mr Steiner, "and momentum is now building to find ways of protecting the environment and the long-term livelihoods of affected communities. "Some agencies are already leading the way. Their examples of good practice must be built upon to promote this important agenda." Sam Bond Source: edie newsroom
This story is tagged as:
climate change | drought | green buildings | NGOs | war | water saving Click on a keyword to see more stories on that topic Share this
© Faversham House Group Ltd 2009. edie news articles may be copied or forwarded
for individual use only. No other reproduction or distribution is permitted without prior written consent.
|
 You are notlogged in » Log in here Why not register for your free weekly newsletter? Related Stories The Australian government has announced plans to buy back more water from farms throughout the parched Murray-Darling river basin.» Scale of food's footprint spelled out Paint a picture of mankind's environmental impact, and the first thing that appears on the canvas is usually factories and power plants spewing out smoke or gridlocked roads teaming with traffic.» Water specialists asked for views on global water security Water specialists from a wide range of disciplines are being urged to take part in far-reaching international inquiry looking at water security around the globe.» California adopts green building standards California has become the first American state to adopt a mandatory green building standards code.
Related Media» Hilary Benn comments on agricultural emissionsThe Environment Secretary responds to a question on policy to tackle carbon emissions from meat production in the UK. Speaking at the launch of the Aldersgate Group's Beyond Carbon report.
» Hilary Benn MP talks biofuelsThe Secretary of State for the Environment responds to a question about biofuels and sustainable transport at the launch of the Aldersgate Group's resource efficiency report Beyond Carbon.
» Best Carbon Reduction ProjectComedian Hugh Dennis presents the award for Best Carbon Reduction Project 2009 at the edie.net Awards for Environmental Excellence
» See more
|
Send to a friend
Link to this page
Comment
| Conference | |
| About us Feedback Register Contact Advertise Editorial Finditforme | Publications Partners Links Discussions Quiz |
» Discussion - Can we cut building emissions fast enough to meet targets?
» Discussion - Will energy meters cut climate change or are they a gimmick?