The inaugural Paris Peace Forum, held earlier this month, marked the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. Inspired by the COP 21 model, this event centred around one simple idea: “international cooperation is key to tackling global challenges and ensuring durable peace”. One impactful panel that took place was The Right Time for a Global Pact for the Environment. According to the Vancouver Sun, this panel emphasized the huge role the environment plays in achieving and maintaining world peace. It is especially important as global security through migration, water resource scarcity, and conflict are inherently linked to climate pollution and environmental degradation.
With a need for political action at every level, world leaders are currently negotiating a new global pact that will function as a “law binding tool that enforces the innate human right to a healthy environment”. It is expected to be implemented by 2022, or so, with 140 countries having already voted in support of it. As a legal instrument, it will ensure that governments and corporation will “be held accountable for actions that negatively impact, what should be, a human right”.