Week 7 - Environmental Security


Week 7 - Environmental Security

The concerns for security that are produced by our changing climate are legitimate, with natural resources dwindling the requirement for military intervention in the distribution of vital resources such as clean water and food is becoming increasingly likely. An article by Pacific Standard Magazine lists some of the most endangered cities around the globe who face water shortages, overpopulation and danger from rising sea levels and natural disasters. Some of these cities include Cape Town, Karachi, Dhaka, and Manila. Another aspect to conflate with the issues of climate change is the role that terrorist groups such as Isis play in recruiting desperate individuals who live in endangered cities, Manila is a great example of this. As these groups increase in size through recruitment the risk of conflict increases and then security over resources is strained even further. In this way it is clear to see how climate change and environmental risks create real security risks in a practical sense, particularly in areas which are most affected by these aforementioned environmental dangers. This is yet another example of how nation-states may be able to reduce the risk of global conflict, through negating environmental concerns via mitigating or adaptation policies alongside the securitisation of "at-risk" areas.

References

 Rita Floyd (2008): "The Environmental Security Debate and its Significance for Climate Change", Italian Journal of International Affairs, 43:3, 51-65 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03932720802280602

 Benson, T. "Which cities are most vulnerable to climate change conflict?" Pacific Standard Magazine. 2018.  https://psmag.com/environment/the-cities-most-vulnerable-to-climate-conflict

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