The Conflict and Environment Observatory (CEOBS) works to ensure that the environmental consequences of armed conflicts and military activities are properly documented and addressed, and that those affected are assisted. It was launched in 2018 with the primary goal of increasing awareness and understanding of the environmental and derived humanitarian consequences of conflicts and military activities. It seeks to challenge the idea of the environment as a “silent victim of armed conflict.”
CEOBS builds on six years of research and policy work by its predecessor the Toxic Remnants of War Project. The Project sought to find new opportunities for collecting data on environmental harm and the human suffering it causes. It also identified means through which data could be used to inform greater protection for the environment, and those who depend on it, before, during, and after armed conflicts. CEOBS’ work extends beyond the environmental consequences of war to also consider the role of environmental factors in triggering or driving insecurity.
CEOBS works with international organizations, civil society, academia and communities to:
- Monitor and publicize data on the environmental dimensions of armed conflicts;
- Develop tools to improve data collection and sharing; and
- Monitor and scrutinize developments in law and policy that could contribute towards the reduction of humanitarian and environmental harm.
