The Due Regard Principle in IHL: Protecting the Environment amid Armed Conflict

Apr 9, 2026 | Lydia Millar
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Environmental degradation remains one of the most persistent and under-addressed consequences of contemporary armed conflict. International Humanitarian Law (IHL) recognises these dangers and imposes a series of obligations to mitigate environmental harm. Among them, is the somewhat elusive due regard principle, which seeks to ensure that military operations are conducted in a manner that protects and preserves the natural environment.