Climate security and Japan’s new national security strategy: a policy analysis

Abstract

Japan’s National Security Strategy makes it clear that the Government of Japan is more climate-security minded than before, although its overall tone is dominated by geopolitical and traditional security issues. The Government of Japan, and the Ministry of Defense in particular, should address climate security particularly in close cooperation with its international partners. Military-to-military cooperation should be accelerated mainly on the response and adaptation of the military forces to the impacts of climate change. Japan’s effort will contribute to the international efforts to build a new security architecture in the Indo-Pacific. The Ministry of Defense established its Response Strategy on Climate Change. This is important as it clearly shows the Ministry’s recognition that the effort to address climate change is compatible with national security efforts, including military efforts. As climate security is a truly global agenda, Japan’s international security cooperation to address climate change should be pursued globally. As it is quite new for Japan, there is much room for expansion in response, adaptation and reduction. Climate security should not be viewed as any political movement in disguise. Scientific integrity should be respected. Additionally, Japan’s international cooperation on policy study on climate security must be promoted to advance climate security policy in Japan.