New Delhi, Aug. 11 -- Armenia and Azerbaijan recently signed an accord around the 35-year-old dispute involving the Nagorno-Karabagh region. A colony of ethnic Armenians, surrounded by Azeris, has seen bloody battles for control, accusations of ethnic cleansing, and environmental horrors. I was thrilled to see leaders from the two countries shaking hands, their gesture of friendship firmly cemented by President Donald Trump's additional clasp. The flames of dispute have been put out by President Trump. The world is overburdened by disputes. Some, like this one, are so old that they don't even grab the headlines anymore. Yet, over time, one dispute has multiplied into others, including, in this case, arguments around sharing river waters. In every case, we are unable to estimate the environmental cost of these geopolitical crisis and what they mean for economic and social stability. The region has also experienced environmental pillage. From forest fires, habitat destruction to pollution, including from warfare, Nagorno-Karabagh is deeply scarred. In this fragile era of species loss, plastic and air pollution, and climate change, a peace accord such as this one should automatically mean deep restoration. Otherwise, a place like Nagorno-Karabagh is just not habitable in the medium term. Even after the violence of war ceases, the violence on the environment will harm people. This could be one of those rare places on the planet where the United Nations could bring value. From co-creating a remediation and conservation plan, to generating green livelihoods for the war ravaged and displaced people -- this can become the best route ahead. Without this, the accord cannot reach its full potential....