Eleventh International Conference on Climate Change: Impacts & Responses

Abstract

Today, climate change has become a crucial global priority as it affects national and global security of the nation states. The non-traditional nature of these threats has altered the conventional security paradigm. Incidents like a melting Arctic, rising sea level, unprecedented precipitation or exceptional droughts, extra ordinary flooding, intense wildfires are just a few examples that how this climate phenomenon will threaten societies. Climate change security implications in the form of: water scarcity, food shortage, natural resources depletion can not only cause war, but also accelerate instability and make scenarios worse. Politics of resentment will increase between different regions. The Arab Spring, Pakistan-India water conflict, competition over resources in Middle East, situation of conflict and fragility in South China Sea, Russian-American tussle over Arctic’s energy reserves are some prime examples to predict what future may look like. The states’ interests and security is shared and not independent any longer, therefore, the responses of the world governments to increased instability will define whether wars and military conflicts will happen or not. The only way to address this issue is by dialogue and negotiation on reducing carbon emissions by mankind. There is a long list of ineffective climate protocols and treaties latest of which is The Paris Agreement, but what this world needs is a binding and highly effective climate treaty to mitigate international climate change threats. If the world governments fail to combat this challenge, they will be unable to get through any other security challenge of this century.