Contribution of multilateral environmental agreements and their institutional mechanisms to environmental peacebuilding

This chapter explores how environmental treaties, commonly referred to as multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) can contribute to prevent war-torn states from relapsing into conflict and foster environmental peacebuilding. The MEAs may guide and channel conservation efforts in post-conflict situations to restore and safeguard the environment. MEAs materialise the principle of common but differentiated responsibility (CBDR), which enables transfer of capacity building, technology and funding from developed state parties to developing state parties and assist them to fulfil the obligations contained in the MEAs. As the MEAs regulate other issues such as local empowerment, social and economic development and equity, they can be important frameworks in building peace when implemented in post-conflict situations.