Ally Tompkins
Global Security Studies
Professor Shirk
Climate Change as a Security Issue
Climate change has posed a pressing challenge for all nations as many debate how to handle the situation. Global warming is not a national security issue; it cannot be fought off with guns or the army of a nation, but instead it is a global security issue. The threat of the changing environment is universal as its effects will be seen by all nations and therefore must be addressed by all nations. While it does not connote the same violence or military strategy as national security, global security requires action from people across the world in efforts to keep the globe safe from environmental destruction. The threat of climate change must be recognized globally in order for there to be effective action taken, such as reducing emissions and working with countries to deal with the impacts.
The Global Security Defense Index on Climate Change examines how global warming is relevant as a security issue by looking at how various regions of the world approach dealing with climate change. Many who work on defense have deemed climate change as a “threat multiplier” or an “accelerant of instability” because of how it influences a range of other, already existing threats”(American Security Project 1). As it directly affects independent nations, so too does it affect their relations with other countries. The index identifies East Asia as being an ideal representation of how the rest of the world should handle climate change. The countries recognize climate change as being one of the factors of conflict. International conflicts heighten because of climate change, bringing attention to the issue in some areas. Other areas such as the Middle East and North Africa have done little to identify climate change as a prevalent issue. However, many international conflicts have direct affiliation with the effects of climate change; for example, in areas with food shortages, the problem could be heightened by increasing temperatures, leading to a conflict in resources (American Security Project 1). Similarly, as sea levels rise, many island nations are witnessing their homes deteriorate. Thus, with the destruction of such areas comes an impending refugee crisis. Therefore, nations must recognize the damaging effects that climate change has on the people of the world and its resources.
In identifying global warming as a problem, action can be taken to reduce the effects and acquire strategies to handle the impact. The Paris Agreement is perhaps the most famous attempt at actualizing a plan for climate change. The agreement sets a long term temperature goal of keeping the global temperature increase to below two degrees celsius, and hoping to limit it to one and a half degrees above pre-industrial levels. Syria has recently announced their plans to sign the agreement, making the United States the only nation not participating in the efforts. The goal is for nations to plan to create a strategy that aids in reducing emissions and working with the global temperature outline. The timeline is that by mid-century, the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will be balanced. For example, there will be efforts put into growing forests in order to absorb carbon dioxide output. Yet, such an agreement is dependent upon participation and cooperation. As the issue affects all people on the globe, all nations must be willing to work towards a solution. While the current threat is largely to nations deeply impacted by the rising sea levels, everyone will ultimately be affected by global warming.
Therefore, while it is important that climate change is recognized independently within nations, it is more prevalent as a global security issue than a national security issue. The rising temperatures and sea levels do not merely impact one nation, but rather the entire world. While some effects seem more direct (such as the rising sea levels near Tuvalu, for instance) for some areas, ultimately, the entire world will be subject to the impact of global warming. Thus, there must be a global plan or strategy that includes every nation and works to implement concrete programs in order to aid in the handling of global warming.
The Global Security Defense Index on Climate Change examines how global warming is relevant as a security issue by looking at how various regions of the world approach dealing with climate change. Many who work on defense have deemed climate change as a “threat multiplier” or an “accelerant of instability” because of how it influences a range of other, already existing threats”(American Security Project 1). As it directly affects independent nations, so too does it affect their relations with other countries. The index identifies East Asia as being an ideal representation of how the rest of the world should handle climate change. The countries recognize climate change as being one of the factors of conflict. International conflicts heighten because of climate change, bringing attention to the issue in some areas. Other areas such as the Middle East and North Africa have done little to identify climate change as a prevalent issue. However, many international conflicts have direct affiliation with the effects of climate change; for example, in areas with food shortages, the problem could be heightened by increasing temperatures, leading to a conflict in resources (American Security Project 1). Similarly, as sea levels rise, many island nations are witnessing their homes deteriorate. Thus, with the destruction of such areas comes an impending refugee crisis. Therefore, nations must recognize the damaging effects that climate change has on the people of the world and its resources.
In identifying global warming as a problem, action can be taken to reduce the effects and acquire strategies to handle the impact. The Paris Agreement is perhaps the most famous attempt at actualizing a plan for climate change. The agreement sets a long term temperature goal of keeping the global temperature increase to below two degrees celsius, and hoping to limit it to one and a half degrees above pre-industrial levels. Syria has recently announced their plans to sign the agreement, making the United States the only nation not participating in the efforts. The goal is for nations to plan to create a strategy that aids in reducing emissions and working with the global temperature outline. The timeline is that by mid-century, the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will be balanced. For example, there will be efforts put into growing forests in order to absorb carbon dioxide output. Yet, such an agreement is dependent upon participation and cooperation. As the issue affects all people on the globe, all nations must be willing to work towards a solution. While the current threat is largely to nations deeply impacted by the rising sea levels, everyone will ultimately be affected by global warming.
Therefore, while it is important that climate change is recognized independently within nations, it is more prevalent as a global security issue than a national security issue. The rising temperatures and sea levels do not merely impact one nation, but rather the entire world. While some effects seem more direct (such as the rising sea levels near Tuvalu, for instance) for some areas, ultimately, the entire world will be subject to the impact of global warming. Thus, there must be a global plan or strategy that includes every nation and works to implement concrete programs in order to aid in the handling of global warming.
Work Cited;
Deudney,
“The Case against Linking Environmental Degradation and National Security”,
American Security Project.
I agree completely that climate change should be seen as a global security threat because every country is affected in some sort of way. The issue is that every country is affected differently, so there is not an easy resolution to the issue. As you mentioned, not every country recognizes climate change as an issue and with Trump threatening to pull out of the Paris Agreement, this trend may begin to increase. I like your call to action in your last sentence though. To effectively combat climate change, every country must come together and create a blueprint for how to deal with the issues at hand. Each country needs to have their own unique plan of action because not every country is affected in the same way nor contribute to the problem at the same rate. I will disagree on your statement that Eastern Asia is an ideal representation of how other countries should handle climate change. China is a huge producer in greenhouse gases and have taken limited steps into changing their production. Therefore, although Eastern Asia claim climate change is a huge issue, their actions do not back up this claim.
ReplyDeleteI agree that climate change is a global concern and that it is first and foremost a global security issue as opposed to national security issue. I believe that climate change can be indirectly responsible for national security issues, however hesitate to directly consider it one itself (despite understanding the financial and mobilization advantages such a label may create). For example, climate change can have consequences such as droughts and consequent famines, which can create national security threats as tensions rise between societal groups. However, climate change itself does not directly threaten national security in a sense that necessarily requires military aid (although again I understand some of their programs may help with the issue).
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