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LEARN ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE and SECURITY
University for Peace (UPEACE) presents a new specialisation in Climate Change
and Security in its Masters curriculum, focussing on Environmental
Security and Peace.
The relationship between climate change and security is becoming a core issue within the climate framework. In this perspective, UPEACE organises Master courses directly addressed to the need for a clearer understanding of the multiple
relationships between climate change and international, national and local
security issues.
The academic premises on which the Climate Change and Security
specialisation is built are: that environmental problems are closely linked to
security issues at the individual, national and international levels; that
climate change is one such issue and is a potential contributor to increased
intra-state levels of conflict; and that the international community plays an
essential role in governing the climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.
The ESP-CCS specialisation aspires to contribute to significant
environmental and development improvements, such as the recognition and
empowerment of local and indigenous communities in the shaping of
climate change mitigation and adaptation measures, and the
identification and mitigation of conflicts that arise from climate
change related issues.
 CLIMATE AND CONFLICT: A DOUBLE DISASTER FOR THE POOREST PEOPLE
While world leaders have
left Copenhagen with an inadequate “climate agreement”, the effects of climate
change are already being experienced quite seriously in many parts of the world.
In the Dutch newspaper Trouw (January 6th, 2010) Mark van
Dorp and Eric van de Giessen plead for a special approach for such fragile
states like Sudan and Afghanistan, offering people in those countries more
protection to climate change. This will prevent them from being hit by a double
disaster.
At the
climate summit in Copenhagen, rich countries have pledged 30 billion dollar – mounting
to 100 billion per year in 2020 – to help developing countries adapt to the negative
effects of climate change. Governments of developing countries can use these
funds for building dams or for training farmers in growing more
drought-resistant crops, for instance.
However, in countries involved in civil war these funds will probably
not be spent well and wisely. Democratic principles, as adopted in many other
countries in the world, do not function in fragile states as these governments are
often not capable, nor willing, to protect the most vulnerable people. Other,
more innovative ways have to be found, therefore, to tackle climate change in
fragile states.
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