International Day for the Prevention of the Use of the Environment as a Weapon in War and Armed Conflict: Kuwaiti Initiative Highlights the Catastrophic Impact of Conflicts on the Environment

By Shaima Al-Ruwaidah (Report) Kuwait, Nov 6 (KUNA) -- The world today, Friday, commemorates the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, observed annually on November 6. This United Nations observance originated from a Kuwaiti initiative adopted by the UN General Assembly on November 5, 2001, to highlight the catastrophic impacts of wars and conflicts on the environment and biodiversity.

The occasion underscores Kuwait’s pioneering role in environmental protection, as the international community observes this day pursuant to General Assembly Resolution 56/4, which aims to raise awareness of the importance of safeguarding the environment from the effects of war and armed conflict. The day holds particular significance for Kuwait, drawing on its painful experience during the Iraqi invasion in 1990, when the country suffered an environmental disaster marked by the burning of more than 700 oil wells. This caused severe damage to Kuwait’s environment, resulting in widespread contamination of land and water and spreading environmental harm to neighboring countries.

Following the defeat of the invaders, Kuwait swiftly formed a specialized firefighting team that collaborated with various national entities and several advanced countries to extinguish the burning wells within a record time. This effort stood as a prominent example of national unity in confronting environmental disasters caused by war.

November 6 was chosen as the annual date for this observance because it marks the day in 1991 when the last burning oil well in Kuwait was extinguished. This date has since become a national and humanitarian symbol, evolving into a global occasion through the Kuwaiti initiative.

In the context of Kuwait’s efforts to highlight its role in environmental protection and enhance international awareness of the dangers of war on natural resources, the Kuwait Environment Public Authority announced its readiness to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the UN General Assembly’s adoption of this observance.

These preparations reaffirm Kuwait’s pioneering role in launching this international initiative. Preparations include coordination with Kuwait Oil Company to establish a permanent exhibition at the Kuwait Oil Company’s Ahmed Al-Jaber Oil and Gas Exhibition, documenting the story of the International Day and the Kuwaiti initiative.

Kuwait attaches great importance to supporting efforts to preserve the environment from armed conflict through various positions and initiatives. Among the earliest was the speech delivered by the late Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (may God have mercy on him), at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 1992, following the country’s liberation from the nefarious invasion. He emphasized the commitment to rebuilding Kuwait’s environment, which had been damaged by the burning of oil wells, and called on the international community to enact legislation classifying deliberate environmental destruction as a crime against humanity.

In November 2002, the late Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (may God have mercy on him), then First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressed Kuwait’s appreciation for the UN’s adoption of this observance in a speech marking the first anniversary of the declaration of the International Day. He stated that “the declaration of this day represents a victory over forces of evil and aggression and affirms to all countries the necessity of preserving the environment and bequeathing it to future generations free from all forms of pollution and suitable for safe and stable living.”

In 2018, the State of Kuwait organized the first initiative of its kind at the United Nations Security Council on the impact of armed conflicts on the environment, highlighting the catastrophic consequences that may result from environmental damage. In 2025, the Gulf Cooperation Council, through the Permanent Representative of Kuwait to the United Nations, emphasized during the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva the need to strengthen international cooperation to address pollution, climate change, and environmental degradation in the oceans, and to tackle their underlying causes and effects, recognizing the oceans as a vital component of the global ecosystem and a fundamental source of livelihood and food security for millions of people. On this occasion, the State of Kuwait, represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, issued a statement in 2025 expressing full solidarity with efforts to protect the environment during wars and armed conflicts, stressing the necessity of respecting international law, which provides protection for the environment before, during, and after armed conflicts. (End) S.R. / M.S.A.