Concept Of Environmental Security Research Articles

Genesis of Shaping a Concept of Environmental Safety in a Global Social and Political Thought and Political and Legal Practice

The article carries out a retrospective analysis of the genesis of shaping a concept of environmental security in world social and political thought and political and legal practice. The phenomenon of ecological security is considered as one of the most important issues of today’s reality, which reflects the influence of human activity in various fields on the natural environment is acute and is an urgent problem of our time, which actualizes the need for scientific understanding of phenomena and processes of both global environmental changes and direct human influence on the public environment in the context of public management and regulation processes of ensuring environmental security of national states and the whole world community It is emphasized that the global level of environmental security problems requires appropriate global response: understanding, conceptualization and development appropriate planetary strategy and public policy of environmental protection security and institutionalization of interstate, national and social structures necessary for the implementation of such a policy. It was concluded that the concept of environmental security, which originated on the border 18th–20th centuries, began to receive its scientific and social and political interpretation in the 20th century, but arose most acutely from the beginning of the third millennium, when humanity became aware of the threatening patterns of further increasing anthropogenic harmful impact on the environment. The issue of environmental safety were regularly considered at the highest level of the UN conference. However, the desired the result has not yet been achieved and the «window of opportunity» for humanity is getting narrow

Environmental Security and Megacities: An Application of Q Methodology

Cities impact on the environment was always been visible and a serious matter of issue. Megacities or megaregions, with the overcrowding population and the uncontrollable destruction of the natural environment due to economic growth and the need of mega-amounts of energy, have not only regional but a global environmental impact. Even if the concept of environmental security is not yet well defined and properly promoted as the proper environmental protection security mechanism, it is more than ever appropriate to be the problem-solver and practical solution of the unmanageable and irresistible environmental disruption in megacities. This paper establishes and analyses the perspectives of two megacities’ inhabitants such as Cairo and London with the aims to understand the public’s needs and viewpoints and find out reasonable solutions of the megacities impacts on the environment. By applying Q methodology (a new research method for security studies) in two concepts such as megacities and environmental security, we open the discussion on the sensitive topic of ‘mega environmental crisis’ with the view of encouraging the further concentrate at the solutions in the subject matters. The purpose and motivation of this paper is to provide a brief overview of Q methodology and the connection between environmental security and megacities based on the impact that the last ones have on the environment and the solutions coming directly from the people living in these megacities.

Figurative Narratives of Environmental Security

The current paper presents a comprehensive overview of numerous, frequently divergent, views of the concept of environmental security and stresses the resulting ambiguity in its interpretations across various types of discourse. This calls for the need to provide an overarching explanation of what environmental security is to be able to tackle environmental issues in the years to come. Given the complexity and the abstract nature of the term, it is the effective use of language resources that can be helpful in making sense of the environmental security and relevant mechanisms to ensure it. The paper argues that figurative language serves as a pervasive cognitive mechanism in interpreting and foregrounding the major aspects of sustainable "communication" with and about the environment. The focal point of the paper is the authors' urge to search for an apt metaphorical narrative encompassing various aspects of environmental security as a single metaphor is hardly able to cover a myriad of interdependent relations in the course of human-nature interaction. The analysis of the recurring discursive metaphors (military, medical, care) to refer to environmental security has revealed their downsides in promoting an adequate view of the current threats and, thus, the lack of public awareness of the emergency actions to save the planet.

Understanding the Environmental Security Perceptions of the European Union’s Security Actors

In this paper, we are interested in assessing the different environmental security concepts, policies, and actions of actors involved in the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). Through exploratory qualitative research, we interviewed key stakeholders who formulate both the climate security discourse and its policy outcomes. Aiming at finding the different perceptions and practices among various actors, we conducted 27 qualitative interviews with practitioners from 17 different institutions, such as EU bodies and agencies, think tanks, and ministries of defense (MoDs). This article discusses the divergence between announced environmental and climate security strategies and policies related to their actual results. Notably, the findings indicate that the effectiveness of the political directives compared with the practices and the developed capabilities around the environment–security nexus are dependent on individual initiatives and efforts that a developing community of practitioners is attempting to carry out. Our study indicates that tailored environmental security policies and actions are needed to motivate both practitioners and policymakers to develop downstream methods and programs that are suited to resolving security-related challenges associated with environmental issues and especially climate change.

Understanding Turkey`s environmental problems from security perspective

The concept of environmental security is rooted in the belief that the deterioration of the environment and the lack of resources might jeopardize the stability and longevity of nations. Hence, this essay endeavors to assess the viability of environmental security as a determinant of conflict in Turkey, a country that has witnessed an environmental degradation over the past few decades. This article posits that, with regards to potential conflicts between Turkey and its neighboring nations, it is unlikely that any environmental issues, aside from transboundary water sharing, would serve as a primary catalyst for war. However, they may indirectly worsen Turkey� relations with bordering countries. This is because resource scarcity, environmental degradation and climate-induced mass foreign migration and asylum seekers can cause political and social disorder and cultural corruption in Turkey. The potential consequences of these indirect impacts pose a risk of social, political and cultural deterioration in Turkey and its ties with neighboring countries through worsening dynamics linked to security.

THE IMPORTANCE OF POLICY COHERENCE FOR TURKEY’S SUSTAINABLE FOOD SECURITY POLICY

Sustainable development is at the forefront of the issues that have occupied the world agenda in recent years. Sustainable development debates are generally discussed in the context of environmental problems. The concept of environmental security has become popular because of the increasing interest in environmental problems triggered by globalization and pandemic processes. As a multidimensional concept, there are policies developed by countries for environmental security. However, cooperation between countries has an important role in environmental security, which is a global problem. A number of initiatives have been made in this regard on international platforms. However, global cooperation is not sufficient. In this context, the consistency between the policies implemented by the countries is another important factor. Accordingly, in this study, the measures taken by Turkey regarding food security, which is an element of environmental security, are discussed. Common food security concepts were identified through an analysis of reports from leading institutions.Afterwards, the development plans for these concepts were examined, and it was determined in what context they were used. As a result, it has been determined that there has been an awareness about food security in Turkey in recent years, but there are steps that need to be taken in terms of policy consistency

Environmental security as a source of non-state legitimacy: An analysis of corporate governance

Environmental security concepts are shaping the contours of global environmental governance. Although many scholars have analyzed the emergence of environmental security agendas within state agencies and intergovernmental organizations, greater understanding of how environmental security debates traverse transnational, non-state politics is needed to provide a fuller view of environmental security as a globally contested concept. Therefore, this paper examines how transnational corporations (TNCs) leverage and generate ideas about environmental security on a cross-border scale. Specifically, I explore the ways three TNCs —BP, Nutrien, and Veolia—turn to environmental security as a source of legitimacy in their broader global environmental governance agendas. I find that these TNCs rely on particular notions of environmental security to validate their roles in filling governance gaps, promoting democratic principles, and mitigating planetary crisis, particularly to appease a primarily Western, elite audience. Ultimately, I reveal how environmental security concepts inform non-state legitimacy claims and advocate for a political economic perspective for understanding the wider implications of environmental security as a power-laden concept.

ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The article is devoted to the actual problem of our time-the legislative provision of environmental safety in the framework of achieving sustainable development. The very essence of the concept of environmental security is to create a collective, universal security system that unites all the states of the planet. This means that it is unacceptable to strengthen the security of some States at the expense of others, and it is not advisable to create isolated systems of environmental security. Environmental security, as well as political security, is equal and indivisible for all subjects of international law.

The Origins of the Syrian Conflict: Climate Change and Human Security

The Origins of the Syrian Conflict: Climate Change and Human Security

ECOFEMINISM AND ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY

In the context of climate change and rising risk of environmental crisis caused by pollution and unsustainable exploitation of natural resources, the concept of environmental security, primarily defined as the resilience of countries and individuals to the challenges of environmental degradation, is rapidly obtaining the interest of general public and experts from various scientific disciplines. However, it seems that the gender aspect of security in general, and particularly of environmental security has not been given the amount of attention it deserves until recently. Thanks to the ecofeminist movement, based upon the idea that women are more closely related to nature than men and more vulnerable and susceptible to the negative impacts of environmental degradation (especially those emerging as the consequences of pollution and climate change), the role of women in the improvement of environmental security through participation in decision-making processes in legislation and public policy making is finally being recognised. The aim of this paper is to analyse the modern concept of environmental security as well as the evolution and contemporary discourses within ecofeminist movements and to explain the link between them, i.e., the contribution of ecofeminism to the shift in the approach to environmental security in the sense of taking into consideration the rights and interests of women as more common victims of negative environmental impacts as well as their potentials as relevant stake holders in this field.

Non-Traditional Security Issues and the Danger Not to See the Forest for the Trees: A Critical Analysis of the Concept of Environmental Security

This article discusses the development of environmental security and the role this approach has played within the security debate of International Relations. First, it is argued that the determining aspects of environmental security are not found merely in the fact that it expands the security concept around the nexus of security and environment, but in the way it projects these elements onto different vertical levels, which are in turn interlocked with one another. Second, the concept of environmental security is criticised from both a conceptual and an empirical perspective. Conceptually, it is shown that the approach is both too unclear and too inclusive to be operational. Empirically, it will be demonstrated that the approach is in danger of being misused in the socially undesirable sense of securitisation, i.e., that persons responsible for political decisions can use vaguely defined, assumed, but scientifically unfounded, environmental “threats” to justify political decisions while avoiding public discussion.

Resilience and environmental security: towards joint application in peacebuilding

ABSTRACTResilience is a widely used concept among development, environmental, security and peacebuilding organizations. However, resilience has rarely been applied in conjunction with the potentially complementary concept of environmental security. Therefore, this paper explores how the concepts of resilience and environmental security can be jointly applied by non-governmental organizations working to implement peacebuilding projects in developing countries. We first review definitions of the concepts and explore their strengths and pitfalls. Second, we develop a conceptual framework for a joint application whereby environmental security sharpens the scope of resilience, while resilience allows for taking issues into account that a traditional environmental security perspective might miss. Finally, we apply the conceptual framework to a case study from Palestine.

National security of Ukraine in the context of legal regulation in the sphere of ecological problems

The aim of the paper is the development of the normative-legal basis of the competence of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine in the sphere of ecological security and the formulation of recommendations for its improvement.Statement of the Problem and its Relevance. Today the level of environmental risk depends upon the effects of human activities. A man begins to understand that the nature should be perceived in several aspects: as a mighty force and as a fragile organism that can be destroyed by careless actions. From the end of last century, realizing that the state of the environment depends on human activities, the world community began to show greater interest in its protection, the development of countries and regions for preserving the environment for future generations. The aim of the paper is the development of the normative-legal basis of the competence of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine in the sphere of ecological security and the formulation of recommendations for its improvement. Analysis of Studies and Publications. Several issues related to brought up questions are reflected in the writings of scholars V.I. Andreytsev, G.I. Baliuk, Y.S. Shemshuchenko, Y.M. Todiko, S.B. Gavrish, O.S. Zarzhitsky, A.B. Kachinsky, B.G. Rozovsky, V.I. Kurilo, V.A. Lipkan, V.L. Muntian, L.O. Bondar, V.V. Petrov etc. Given the current state of the environment and the lack of an ordered system of legal acts and the common concept of environmental security, the state in accordance with international standards has defined as one of the strategic objectives the reforming in the field of environmental security, for the ensurement of the harmonious development of man and preservation of the environment for future generations. In Ukraine, the issues of environmental security are engaged in a number of state agencies, among which a prominent place belongs to the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine. According to the analyzed proposals of the scientists who believe that there is a reform of the central public authorities, including the sphere of environmental safety, it would be useful to distinguish these authorities on the basis of the resource approach and differentiation of powers of disposal of natural objects, control and inspection powers. For such reason, the structure of the central public authorities would consist of two departments in the complete absence of signs of affiliation with each other. It quite regards central government authorities empowered in the field of environmental security. Thus, according to the sphere covered by the competence of the central authorities and on the basis of resource approach and differentiation of powers, it would be logical to delimit the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources in two equivalent authorities of the central government. In the list of functions of the central authority exercising powers in the sphere of preservation and protection, it is necessary to fix: the control of inspection, conciliation (in terms of approval limits of the use of natural objects at the level of the state and administrative-territorial units), expert, inspection (verifying the compliance with environmental legislation the enterprises, institutions and organizations irrespective of forms of ownership), information (information about the state of the environment and the results of their activities). The central authority in the field of scientific support and use of objects of the environment (resource control) will carry out scientific-organizational, information and training (information about the state of the natural environment and carrying out training activities) and environmental monitoring functions. In our opinion, it should be improved firstly the regulatory support in the field of environmental safety in accordance with modern realities and created an integral and perfect mechanism of administrative-legal regulation in Ukraine with regard to responsibility both individuals and business entities.

The Concept of Environmental Security Subject to Forest Legislation

The concept of environmental security is one of the basic concepts of environmental legislation. Science has no common understanding of environmental security, forest law science has yet to develop this category. Meanwhile, forestry legislation plays a decisive role in ensuring environmental security. In this regard, the article deals with the issues of environmental safety of forest legislation, a special place is given to the Forest Code of the Russian Federation. In addition, the author researches international legislation, studies the place of environmental security in the system of law, the correlation of "environmental security" and "national security", reveals the meaning of environmental safety in forestry. At the end of the article the author makes some conclusions on the subject of research.

Energy security discourses and environmental protection measures in U.S. federal energy legislation: An introductory exploration

Energy security is a term that is commonly invoked in public discourse and the policy domain to emphasize a link between energy issues and national security concerns and to frame arguments surrounding the need for a variety of energy policy prescriptions. However, a lack of consensus has emerged over the meaning, and the means to achieve the goal, of energy security. This paper provides an exploratory examination of the presence, evolution, and implications of the use of the energy security frame in three omnibus energy acts passed in the United States Congress to determine how energy security arguments are intertwined with legislative policy praxis. The research reveals the evolution of trends in the lexicon used to address energy issues, the range of problems addressed as security concerns, and the quantity and quality of environmental protection provisions. Broadly building on prior work on the concept of environmental security, the analysis contributes to the debate over the effect of framing environmental issues as security concerns, extending these considerations to the understudied realm of energy security.

Human security/environmental security

This article offers a genealogy of human security and environmental security set against the background of the 1994 United Nations Human Development Report and its demands for a profound transition in thinking. It shows how these two concepts have intersected and overlapped on the one hand, and diverged on the other. The debates within the UN system about what human security does or should mean have taken some account of the impact of environmental degradation on people and their communities though this has often lacked any analytical depth. The concept of environmental security, on the other hand, has become increasingly divorced from its potentially heterodox and critical roots in human security. Rather it has been captured by an orthodoxy that focuses primarily on non-traditional threats to traditional referents (i.e. the state) and that increasingly perceives ‘environmental security’ as a synonym for the threat multiplier dimensions of climate change. Rather than empowering a people-centred approach that places emancipation at the centre of human/environmental security, the author argues (following Mason and Zeitoun) that this has foreclosed rather than protected human freedom and dignity.

A QUESTÃO DOS RECURSOS HÍDRICOS NO DEBATE SOBRE SEGURANÇA AMBIENTAL

O conceito de segurança ambiental, até por fazer parte de um debate relativamente recente, não apresenta consenso nas suas formulações. No entanto fica claro que remete a um tema prioritário na agenda dos Estados nos âmbitos interno e externo: a necessidade de garantir a esse Estado o acesso a recursos, que esses sejam controlados por ele ou por atores internos, e o abastecimento satisfatório de elementos naturais tais como água, ar, alimentos e matéria-prima para a obtenção de uma ampla gama de bens.

Developing Strategic and Operational Environmental Intelligence Capabilities

This article examines the role of environmental change in conducting intelligence assessments, and the important role in integrating scientific data with background assumptions behind military and security planning. Tracing the development of environmental security concepts, recent military and intelligence interest in climate and environmental changes are based on practical concerns over critical vulnerabilities of infrastructure, energy supplies, and system stability. Examples from Central Asia illustrate the cascading nature of environmental security risks, particularly with water and energy systems. The discussion follows with how scenarios and risk assessments can be integrated with concepts from environmental net assessments, and why traditional assumptions of probabilities, uncertainties and secrecy may be misleading. It is essential to understand not only how extreme future changes might be, but what capabilities we and allies posses to adapt to environmental-related hazards.

The use of “security” jargon in sustainable development discourse: evidence from UN Commission on Sustainable Development

The premise of discourse theory in environmental policy is that realities are shaped by language. One discourse that is gaining popularity is the concept of environmental security, a discourse that presupposes environmental threats as urgent. The attempt to cast environmental issues as security issues has resulted in the common use of security jargon, idioms, and metaphors in policymakers’ and politicians’ statements. Various analyses attempt to identify why natural resources are discussed in terms and language of security. However, far fewer studies have attempted to identify differences in the manner in which different types of resources are incorporated into such a discourse by different actors and what variables contribute to this process. This study examines the construction of the security references, security arguments, and language in the statements of the Commission on Sustainable Development dealing with energy and water. We found that international organizations and Non-governmental Organizations were somewhat more likely than state actors to use security references to discuss sustainability issues. The issues securitized are not the traditional high political ones such as regime stability and conflicts, but rather issues more associated with human security, such as access to renewable energy, affordable food, and clean water. The fact that in many statements examined the use of security references was not associated with any existential threat and hence did not comply with the conditions of the Copenhagen School raises some doubts as to whether security language in these statements implies a true securitization move. We also examined whether the use of the term “security” by states was correlated with greater resource scarcity or vulnerability. In the case of water-related sessions, the evidence was mixed, depending on the choice of dependent variable. The results from energy security regressions, however, were inconsistent with the hypothesis that greater scarcity or vulnerability induces more use of security language.

The Concept of Environmental Security in International Relations: Definition, Features, Implications

[full article and abstract in Lithuanian; abstract in English]
 This article examines the concept of environmental security and assesses its role in international, regional and national security studies. The study is aimed at providing conceptual „mental map“ of this field, thereby giving analytical background and gui­dance for comprehensive environmental security studies, which are known for the diversity of conceptual approaches, methods and levels of analysis.The fundamental question of environmental security – how various environmen­tal factors (climate, resources, etc.) and processes can affect the security of states and societies. It examines the relationships between different environmental issues, their effects and various security problems. Environment is considered as integrated part of a security concept together with the dimensions of economic, social, energy or information security. In order to identify the main academic schools of the environmental security, this article uses four key questions, theoretically defining the core of environmental secu­rity concept: (i) what makes an impact (source of threat); (ii) to whom/what an impact is made („victim”); (iii) what kind of impact is made (threat); (iv) how an impact is made (mechanisms and “channels”). On the basis of these theoretical dimensions, five main academic schools of environmental security are identified and examined by focusing on their features and findings, methodology and critical assessment:1. Resource scarcity school examines the nexus between scarcity of renewable resources (e.g. freshwater) and various internal and international conflicts (their incidence, intensity and dynamics).2. Resource abundance school explores the relations between non-renewa­ble resources (e.g. diamonds, oil, etc.) and internal conflicts, especially civil wars.3. Climate change school focuses on nature (and human) induced environ­mental change and its implications for international security, socioeconomic development and social disruptions in various regions.4. Human security school focuses on environmental impacts on individual and “people-centered” security, which is closely related with sustainable develo­pment (food security, health and education, welfare, gender issues, etc.).5. Natural disasters school examines the socioeconomic impacts of various disasters (earthquakes, floods, etc.) with specific focus on the vulnerability and adaptive capacity of various social systems (states, communities, etc.).Analysis shows that environmental dimension becomes increasingly impor­tant element of international relations and security studies. Comprehensive security assessment, especially in developing countries, is not possible without taking into account the social and economic impacts made by resources, climate change and natural disasters.Research by 1 and 2 schools, despite various methodological problems, demons­trates the impact resources have to various internal conflicts and social disorder. Scar­city of renewable resources generates certain social effects (for example, decreased productivity of agriculture, migration, weakening of state institutions etc.), which, in turn, can fuel different types of conflicts (ethnic conflicts, coup d’état, poverty conflicts, etc.). Abundance of non-renewable resources can have various direct (for example, direct financial source for rebel groups), as well as indirect (affecting eco­nomy, political regime, separatism, etc.) impact to conflicts.Specific conditions in the developing countries play a significant role in terms of explaining the nexus between resources and security. Developing countries are often dependent on climate-sensitive agriculture and suffer from poverty. As a re­sult, various climate change effects (3 school) often amplify mechanisms, which lead to insecurity and violence, such as political instability, weak governance structures, poor economic performance, etc. This is especially relevant for those regions where several “conflict constellations” (water and food shortage, regular natural disasters, rapid demographic change, etc.) are overlapping. Environmental change also has a certain impact to international security in terms of possible increase in the number of weak and fragile states, risks for global economic development, intensification of migration, territorial disputes, etc.Generally, environmental security research (apart from the 1 and 2 schools) is based on a broad approach to security, which is not limited to military conflicts and include various elements of sustainable development and economic welfare. On the one hand, it is understandable, as interdisciplinary character of environmental securi­ty requires complex approach to security.On the other hand, research based on the concept of human security (4 school) often equates security with economic and social well-being, thus blurring the line between security and development studies. It also undermines the assessment of the impact environmental issues can have to traditional security problems (conflicts, regi­me change, political instability, etc.). Finally, securization of various social problems (AIDS, migration, poverty, gender inequality, etc.) might be used for political purpo­ses by legitimizing the use of military force or restricting human rights.Various natural disasters (5 school) have a substantial destructive power, which not only causes substantial damage (humanitarian crises, destroyed infrastructure, etc.), but also has complex socioeconomic and political effects, which affect politi­cal regimes, critical economic sectors, social stability, etc. From this perspective, a key role is played by physical and socioeconomic characteristics of vulnerability and adaptive capacity, which can absorb negative effects of natural disasters and mitigate the risk.