Global Security and Climate Change
Climate change and security concerns are intertwined as we venture into 2022. With hazards including water scarcity, droughts, inexplicable volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, cyclones, tsunamis, food shortages, rising carbon emissions, global warming and other serious human-led disasters surrounding the earth like an ash cloud, environmental concerns threaten the sustainability and survival rate of future generations just as much as weapons do.
At a UN Security Council debate in 2007, Papua New Guinea remarked that populations of small islands are prone to the dangers of climate change as even a slight increase in the sea level would put their survival at risk, as is the situation of several Pacific Island nations. These shocks of natural disasters and climate change, if not mitigated or accounted for, could lead to a likely outright conflict as we move forward, straining the economic and social stability of societies across the world, especially vulnerable groups. Agriculture will witness a tremendous impact as farmers would constantly be required to shift to crops according to the changing climatic conditions. This could exacerbate the ongoing socio-economic inequalities in underdeveloped islands and countries.
Increasing insecurity among populations due to climate change and political instability will compel millions to migrate. With “Climate Action Failure” ranked as the most ‘critical’ risk in damaging societies, economies and the planet, It is important to act now to avoid significant conflict over resources and accepting the fact that climate change is “not merely an environmental problem”. As Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry said, “This is not about narrow national security, but about collective security in a fragile and increasingly interdependent world”.