The protection of the natural environment under international humanitarian law: The ICRC’s 2020 Guidelines

Abstract

In 2020, the International Committee of the Red Cross’s work on the protection of the natural environment under international humanitarian law (IHL) produced the Committee’s Guidelines on the Protection of the Natural Environment in Armed Conflict (ICRC Guidelines), an update of their 1994 predecessor. The ICRC Guidelines consist of thirty-two rules and recommendations under IHL, each accompanied by a commentary explaining their legal basis and providing guidance for interpretation. This article presents an overview of the context surrounding the Guidelines, certain key legal content, and practical implications for the conduct of parties to armed conflict as they fight.