Large and complex peace operations are now deployed to some of the world’s most insecure areas. Enabling infrastructure may be severely lacking, and this can lead to serious challenges in ensuring good environmental stewardship. The short- and long-term implications of under-performance are serious, particularly in light of the vulnerability of the ecosystems and societies to which UN operations are deployed.

As noted earlier in this chapter, part of the MLT’s responsibility is to maintain the host state’s long-term trust and confidence in the mission. The way in which the mission treats the physical environment can be seen as highly symbolic of the level of respect and consideration it has for the host state. The MLT also has a responsibility to ensure that “responsible missions achieve maximum efficiency in their use of natural resources and operate at minimum risk to people, societies and ecosystems”, and thus have a positive impact on these wherever possible.^[1]

While respecting all local laws and regulations, the waste generated by UN field missions must be managed and disposed of in a safe and proper manner in order to protect the health, safety and security of mission personnel and local populations, and to reduce the risk of accidents and environmental degradation. In the absence of host-country or local laws or regulations, field missions must comply with internationally recognized best practices and standards. There is ample support and guidance available to enable the MLT and its members to meet these standards.^[2]

The mission should, to the greatest extent possible, procure goods and services locally in an attempt to increase the peace dividend. If, for example, water is contaminated, or firewood is not easily accessible as a consequence of mission actions, it may also have a disproportionate impact or unintended consequences on women in society. However, the mission should be aware of and pay attention to possible local political, ethnic or religious rivalries, as an imbalanced use of local resources or employment of service providers might be perceived as bias and damage the credibility or impartiality of the mission.