ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the major international policy milestones in the evolution of the field of environmental peacebuilding and summarizes the key lessons learned. It is based on policy and field work conducted by the United Nation (UN) Environment Programme since 1999, when it established dedicated capacity to conduct post-conflict environmental assessments and support governments in environmental clean-up, restoration, governance and peacebuilding. The chapter discusses the emerging field of environmental peacebuilding. It introduces key international policy milestones that have advanced the field and prompted new programs and practices at the country level, focusing on the period 1999–2017. The chapter focuses on key lessons learned by UN Environment and partners in the efforts to catalyze the UN-wide approach to addressing the environment and natural resources in conflict and peacebuilding. It provides observations on the current and potential role of the United Nations, and establishes an integrated UN-wide approach to addressing natural resources throughout the different phases of conflict and peacebuilding.
