• Embed Doc
  • Copy Link
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • CommentGo Back
Download
 
2008 State of the Future
Chapter 9: Environmental Security 1
Emerging Environmental Security Issues
with Pottential Military Implications
 
Excerpt from
2008 State of the Future 
Chapter 9. Environmental Security
Foreword 1. Executive Summary 2. Summarizing Environmental Security Monthly Scanning 
A.Preventing or repairing military damage to the environment B.Preventing or responding to environmentally caused conflicts C.Protecting the environment due to its inherent moral value
 
3. References
 
2008 State of the Future
Chapter 9: Environmental Security 2
F
OREWORD
 
The purpose of the monthly environmental security scanning reports is to assess worldwideenvironment-related events in order to identify and analyze issues that might trigger futureinternational environmental regulations and/or modifications to the existing ones with potentialimplications for the military.The Millennium Project defines environmental security as environmental viability for lifesupport, with three sub-elements:• preventing or repairing military damage to the environment,• preventing or responding to environmentally caused conflicts, and• protecting the environment due to its inherent moral value.This chapter presents a summary of the events and emerging environmental security–relatedissues organized around this definition.Over the past several years, with support from the U.S. Army Environmental Policy Institute, theMillennium Project has been scanning a variety of sources to produce monthly reports onemerging environmental issues with potential security or treaty implications. Over 200 itemshave been identified in the period July 2007–June 2008 and about 1,100 items since this work  began in August 2002.
Photos courtesy of: UN, NASA, and ESA
 
2008 State of the Future
Chapter 9: Environmental Security 3
1.
 
E
XECUTIVE
S
UMMARY
 
Taking ecological considerations into account is crucial if we are to avoid longer-termenvironmental problems that can undermine security and development, and lead to further cyclesof conflict and displacement.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moonInternational Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment inWar and Armed Conflict, November 6, 2007
The world has moved from a global threat once called the Cold War to what now should beconsidered the Warming War.
Afelee Pita, Tuvalu Ambassador to the UNThe dramatic increase in world attention to climate change is helping more people understandthat the world’s environment is a matter of national and global security. Half the world isvulnerable to social instability and violence due to numerous pressures: rising oil and food prices; decreasing water-food-energy supply per person; climate change; and increasingmigrations stemming from political, environmental, and economic conditions.Environment is an increasingly important component in forecasting future conflicts. Scientists, policy analysts, and military planners are collaborating to prevent or reduce security threats.Environmental diplomacy is increasingly being used to support conflict prevention efforts and to build international confidence.International environmental governance is improving, and the technological ability to identifyenvironmental threats and crimes is becoming cost-effective through new sensors andcommunication systems. Environmental damages that people and organizations got away with inthe past are less likely to escape detection and punishment in the future.
General Patterns and Insights
The need for strategic planning to address climate change and environmental degradation topsthe agenda of the United Nations, many national governments, official forums, corporations, NGOs, and academic institutions.The trend toward adopting the precautionary principle versus reactive actions is increasing.Scientists recommend that nations integrate climate change into their security policy to preparefor worst-case scenarios.The time between the design of a multilateral environmental agreement and its coming into forceas well as the time it takes to reach a high ratification level is shortening. International attentionis shifting from designing new MEAs to improving the effectiveness of existing agreements.
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...