Message on the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict

　　防止战争和武装冲突糟蹋环境国际日致辞

　　6 November 2016

　　2016年11月6日

　　This year, the world began implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. With 17 universal and interdependent Sustainable Development Goals, the 2030 Agenda is a transformational blueprint for peace, prosperity and dignity for all on a healthy planet. To achieve this vision, we must recognize that we have a duty of care towards the environment in peacetime and during war.

　　今年，全球开始执行《2030年可持续发展议程》。《2030年议程》载有17个普遍和相互依存的可持续发展目标，是实现健康地球人人享有和平、繁荣和尊严的变革蓝图。为实现这一愿景，我们必须认识到我们在和平和战争时期负有关爱环境的义务。

　　Poor governance of the environment and natural resources can contribute to the outbreak of conflict. It can fuel and finance existing conflicts and it can increase the risk of relapse. Conversely, there are many examples of natural resources serving as catalysts for peaceful cooperation, confidence-building and poverty reduction.

　　环境资源和自然资源治理不当会引发冲突，也会给现有的冲突火上浇油并使之获得资金支持，还会增加冲突死灰复燃的风险。但另一方面，也有许多例子表明自然资源可以推动和平合作、建立信任和减少贫困。

　　In the aftermath of violent conflict, natural resources, such as land, timber, minerals, oil and gas, are often the primary assets that governments need to support livelihoods and economic recovery. How governments manage these resources can fundamentally alter the course of post-conflict peacebuilding. That is why it is so important that we work together to combat environmental crime, end the illegal exploitation of natural resources, improve transparency, share benefits more equitably and encourage the participation of women, indigenous peoples and vulnerable groups in decision-making.

　　暴力冲突过后，土地、木材、矿物、石油和天然气等自然资源往往成为政府扶持民生和支持经济复苏所需要的主要资产。各国政府对这些资源的管理方式会从根本上改变冲突后建设和平的进程。因此，我们必须齐心协力地打击环境犯罪，制止非法开采自然资源，提高透明度，更公平地分享惠益，并鼓励妇女、土著人民和弱势群体参与决策。

　　The 2030 Agenda explicitly recognizes that “sustainable development cannot be realized without peace and security; and peace and security will be at risk without sustainable development.” That is why, earlier this year, all 193 Member States of the United Nations Environment Assembly adopted a resolution committing to protect the environment in areas affected by armed conflict. At the same time, the United Nations International Law Commission is currently reviewing the international legal framework for protecting the environment before, during and after armed conflict. It aims to establish guidelines that can better support environmental preservation, particularly in protected areas and environmentally sensitive sites, such as drinking water aquifers, which are of critical environmental and cultural importance and can be severely affected by warfare.

　　《2030年议程》明确认识到“没有和平与安全，可持续发展无法实现;没有可持续发展，和平与安全也将面临风险。”因此，今年早些时候，联合国环境大会的所有193个成员国通过一项决议，承诺保护受武装冲突影响地区的环境。与此同时，联合国国际法委员会目前正在审查在武装冲突之前、其间和之后保护环境的国际法律框架。该框架旨在确定准则，从而可更好地支持环境保护，特别是在具有重大环境和文化意义且可能受到战争严重影响的保护区和环境敏感地点保护环境，如保护蕴藏饮用水的含水层。

　　With the 2030 Agenda and the concurrent efforts of the United Nations Environment Assembly and the International Law Commission, we have a range of important tools at our disposal. On this International Day, I urge governments, businesses and citizens around the world to prioritize environmental care and the sustainable management of natural resources for preventing conflict, building peace and promoting lasting prosperity.

　　通过《2030年议程》以及联合国环境大会和国际法委员会的共同努力，我们已有一系列重要的工具可以使用。值此国际日之际，我敦促世界各地的政府、企业和公民将关爱环境以及自然资源的可持续管理作为预防冲突，建设和平和促进持久繁荣的优先事项。

（编辑：何莹莹）