Climate change is the biggest national security for countries of the word. Elaborate the security threats die to climate change and what has been world’s response so far? Are these steps enough?
- January 15, 2021
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPS Topics
Approach:
Here focus in first part has to correlate climate change with national security in India and all over the world. Second part should mention few of the world response so far. Lastly examine these steps with focus on how it is currently below the expected level.
Introduction:
Climate change has emerged as the long-term security challenge to the world. It is threatening resources, food security and even leading to conflicts due to scarcity of resources as a result of it.
Body:
Security threat due to climate change:
- Immense strain that responding to climatological events puts on the country’s resources
- Military has responded vigorously, domestically and internationally, to forest fires, hurricanes, typhoons, flooding and the civil unrest that often follows such crises
- Increase in severity of humanitarian disasters to the impact of global warming.
- Climate-induced threat leading to resource scarcity resulting in conflict. Ex- water shortage causing agrarian economies falter in drought and higher temperatures and fighting breaks out. The wars in Syria and Mali are examples of conflicts in which soaring heat and water shortages are contributing factors
- Possibility of great-power competition in the Arctic.
- Rising sea levels, which threaten crucial ports in the U.S. and overseas.
Mention World’s steps so far to fight Climate change
- Kyoto protocol
- UNFCC
- Paris climate deal
- REDD+
Mention other significant initiatives
Examine if these initiatives are sufficient:
Though, world through UNFCC commitments and innovations like carbon credit has started off well. It is also evident in focus on renewable energies (Ex- International Solar Alliance) etc. However, concerns are huge and challenging:
- In 2020, G20 countries have committed over $230 billion in fossil fuel industry to revive the economy, compared to $150 billion in clean energy
- Despite a 7% decline in CO2 emissions due to the economic slowdown in 2020, the current policies of the countries have put the planet on a 3.2°C temperature increase trajectory.
- The ‘Emission Gap Report 2020’, recently released by the UN Environment Programme, finds that the G20 nations, who account for 80% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, are collectively not on track to meet their modest Paris Agreement commitments
- IPCC report said even Paris climatic commitment may not be sufficient to contain temperature rise within 1.5 degree Celsius.
- Major state like USA withdrawal from Paris deal.
- Lack of national policies around the world to protect environment. Ex- Brazil forest fir and Brazil’s response.
Conclusion:
Climate change is not just an environmental problem now. It has become the biggest security threat. Thus, there is need for collaborative efforts from top to bottom levels. Involving local communities with funding and technologies from rich economies with promotion of sustainable development should be the approach.