Sahiba Gafarova urges stronger environmental protection during conflicts

Protecting the environment during armed conflicts is not only an environmental issue but also a humanitarian, legal, and security necessity, Speaker of Azerbaijan's Parliament Sahiba Gafarova said, Report informs.

Addressing an Inter-Parliamentary Union videoconference on the protection of the environment during armed conflicts, Gafarova said wars inflict long-term damage on ecosystems, biodiversity, water resources, and agricultural land, undermining sustainable development and affecting future generations.

She stressed that while international humanitarian law provides an important legal framework for environmental protection during conflicts, its effectiveness depends on implementation at the national level.

Gafarova also highlighted Azerbaijan's experience, saying the country's formerly occupied territories suffered extensive environmental damage during nearly three decades of occupation, including deforestation, land degradation, water pollution, biodiversity loss, and the illegal exploitation of natural resources.

She noted that Azerbaijan is currently carrying out large-scale humanitarian demining, ecosystem restoration, reforestation, and green energy projects in the liberated territories.

Concluding her remarks, Gafarova called for continued international efforts to strengthen the implementation of international humanitarian law and help ensure a safer and more sustainable future for coming generations.