The United Nations' (UN) International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict is held annually on November 6 to educate people about the damaging effects of war and armed conflict on the environment.
On November 5, 2001, the UN General Assembly declared November 6 of each year as the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict. The assembly considered that any environmental damage in times of armed conflict can often extend beyond the limits of national territories and today's generation.
War and armed conflict has many damaging effects on the natural environment. For example, crops are destroyed, water supplies are poisoned and forests are burnt. New technology that is used for war means that the destruction and damage of the environment is more serious and the long-term consequences can be worse. Many people around the world, including government officials, scientists, journalists, educators, and business people, observe the UN's International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict.
Seminars, speeches, lectures, news articles, radio talks, and classroom activities in schools that focus on the topic are some of the events that take place on this day. People learn and share information about the dangers of new technologies in war such as depleted uranium ammunition, which poses unknown threats to the environment.