On May 22, the UN Security Council will convene for the annual debate on the Protection of Civilians (PoC) in armed conflict, during which Member States will reflect on the UN Secretary-General’s 2025 PoC Report. In conflict areas worldwide, civilians continue to bear the devastating environmental consequences of armed conflicts, which directly and indirectly affect civilians’ health, safety, and livelihoods.
It is therefore crucial for Member States to acknowledge these impacts in statements and interventions during the debate, and to strengthen international policies around the protection of the environment and people depending on it.
