Linking environment and conflict prevention : the role of the United Nations

This report highlights the links between environment and violent conflicts, exploring the potential role of the UN in preventing environment-related conflicts. Conflict prevention measures can be further distinguished into the subcategories of structural conflict prevention (focusing on long-term prevention of crises and their underlying driving factors) and operational conflict prevention (dealing with measures applicable in the face of immediate crisis). The report especially focuses on violent political conflicts, including both international conflicts and intra-national conflicts with the potential of international spillover.