Can Environmental Law of War Contribute to Environmental Wholeness?

Dokun Oyeshola
Department of International Relations, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
«E-mail  doyeshola@oauife.edu.ng

Accepted on September 1, 2006

Abstract

Environmental degradation which may result in global warming, ozone layer depletion, deforestation, erosion, desertification, among others, is already established as one of the major difficulties confronting humankind in the face of development, progress, economic growth, science and technology. Accordingly, various efforts from diverse perspectives have suggested methods to tackle the problem. Conferences, treaties, research and so on come to mind. However, one major area through which a significant contribution could come has not been properly explored namely the law of war in peace and war times. War is still a continuation of foreign policy in the realization of national interest of nation states.  Since war with its catastrophic consequences has not been outlawed, this study examines the existing regimes concerning the effect of war and military tactics on the environment and finds out that the provisions are inadequate and that there is a need to formulate a convention that will take care of all the loop holes.

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