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Key Message

Human Security is both a pre-condition and outcome of sustainable development and conservation of the world's resources. Environmental degradation, poorly designed trade and aid policies, and reckless exploitation of our natural resources imperil human security.

Team


Henry David Venema· Henry David Venema
Director - Sustainable Natural Resources Management
Alec Crawford· Alec Crawford
Project Officer
Anne Hammill· Anne Hammill
Senior Researcher
Mark Halle· Mark Halle
Director - Trade and Investment, and European Representative
Oli Brown· Oli Brown
Program Manager
Richard Matthew· Richard Matthew
Senior Fellow

Security

What's New in Security?

  • Rising Temperatures, Rising Tensions: Climate change and the risk of violent conflict in the Middle East
    English (PDF - 4.4 mb) - Hebrew (PDF - 1 mb)
    In a region already considered the world's most water scarce and where, in many places, demand for water already outstrips supply, climate models are predicting a hotter, drier and less predictable climate in the Middle East. Climate change threatens to reduce the availability of scarce water resources, increase food insecurity, hinder economic growth and lead to large scale population movements. This could hold serious implications for peace in the region.

    This report examines whether the legacy of conflict in the Levant undermines the ability of the region to adapt to climate change, outlines the threats that climate change could pose to regional security, and suggests strategies that can be pursued for peace and sustainable development despite a changing climate.

  • Climate Change and Security in Africa
    English (PDF - 4 mb) - Français (PDF - 3.6 mb)
    Climate change–by redrawing global maps of water availability, food security, disease prevalence and coastal boundaries–could potentially increase forced migration, raise tensions and trigger new conflicts.

    Although Africa is the least responsible for greenhouse gas emissions, it is almost universally seen as the continent most at risk of climate-induced conflict due to its reliance on climate-dependent sectors (such as rain-fed agriculture) and its history of resource, ethnic and political conflicts. In this report, prepared for the Nordic-African Foreign Ministers Forum in Copenhagen in March, 2009, IISD examines the threats that climate change could pose to security for the continent, as well as strategies for peace and development in a changing climate.


Since the events of 9/11, security has dominated the concerns of decision-makers and policy analysts. Increasingly, security is being framed in narrow terms of the terrorist threat to the developed world. At IISD we argue for a wider understanding of security that encompasses resilience to ecological stresses and disasters, political stability, equitable trade and sustainable livelihoods.

Human security and environmental protection are mutually dependent. On one hand, careless depletion of our natural resources undermines livelihoods, increases vulnerability to disaster and imperils human security. On the other, violent conflict and political instability lead to mismanagement of vital natural resources.

IISD is dedicated to understanding the forces that lead to environmental and political insecurity. We promote innovative policy mechanisms that challenge the root causes of insecurity around the world.

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