Environmental peacebuilding and environmental rule of law: Linkages, lessons, and looking forward

Environmental peacebuilding has evolved independently of environmental rule of law, but there are substantial linkages in both theory and practice. This chapter argues that the further evolution of environmental peacebuilding relies on effectively understanding and integrating environmental rule of law into its theoretical and operational frameworks. Relying on the key phases of the conflict life cycle-escalation to violence, conduct of conflict, conclusion of conflict (peacemaking) and post-conflict recovery-it illustrates the many ways in which the lack of environmental rule of law can drive conflict and how effective environmental rule of law can foster environmental peacebuilding. It also highlights specific tensions that need to be managed. The chapter concludes that environmental peacebuilding and environmental rule of law are ultimately related frameworks with their own priorities, conceptual frameworks and respective strengths; as such, environmental peacebuilding can be strengthened through more considered integration of environmental rule of law, and vice versa.