CLIMATE SECURITY
DP23 – CLIMATE SECURITY [PDF 1.2MB]
As climate change begins to bite, Pacific governments are moving to think more deeply about how to integrate climate change into national security and other development policies. How is it affecting water and food security, energy security and international diplomacy?
This paper looks at concerns over the potential for loss of sovereignty, mass migration, military confrontation and the way climate aid-for-influence can have geopolitical consequences. It also frames the situation in the post-MDG (Millenium Development Goals) world that we are rapidly approaching.
Although the challenge ahead is confronting, this paper suggests the global interest in the post 2015-MDG development agenda presents an opportunity for our leaders to press our concerns more robustly on the international stage. It is apparent that future security issues will be driven by climate change, and it is these issues that will drive the development agenda in our region.
As the strategic importance of the region grows in a new era of superpower contest, Pacific nations are in a better position to make stronger demands in global forums to address the challenges and help provide global leadership.
Climate change is a real issue to Pacific islanders. What are the scientific and traditional ways of addressing this issue. We know it is irreversible, but there are means. I am interested in knowing what are some of these ways means.
Island nations contribute around 0.4 of total carbon emissions into the atmosphere but are the first to suffer the consequences of global warming. Cartaret Islands and Kiribati and Tuvalu are scheduled to be the next to migrate from their island homes, the identity, and what makes them and their culture unique. I think the issue we need to discuss is the responsibility of the industrialized countries such as the US, China etc… but more specifically NZ and Australia. What is Australia prepared to do? Will they accept climate refugees from Kiribati and Tuvalu or are they going to setup immigration detention centers to process climate refugees like they do to the boat people.