Economic sanctions are often used to put pressure on countries that are doing harmful things. But they have a hard time dealing with the environmental damage caused by conflicts between nations.

1. Limited Impact on Environmental Policies:

   • Sanctions usually focus on areas like energy and trade. These don’t always help protect the environment.
   • Countries may think survival is more important than environmental health, leading them to use resources more than they should in places where sanctions are in place.

2. Adaptation Strategies:

   • Countries facing sanctions might try to become self-sufficient or make new alliances to go around the sanctions.
   • This can create black markets where natural resources are taken without rules, causing pollution and other environmental harm.

3. Lack of International Agreement:

   • Different countries have different interests, making it hard to agree on strict sanctions that would also help the environment.

4. Short-term Focus:

   • Sanctions often lead to quick economic changes but do not help create long-term solutions for environmental issues.

To use sanctions to create positive environmental changes, countries need to work together. By making specific sanctions that include rules for the environment, countries can create economic consequences that also support environmental goals. Adding rewards for following these rules, like access to new markets or technology for eco-friendly practices, can motivate countries to put the environment first when making decisions about conflicts.