The S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, in collaboration with the Swiss Embassy in Singapore held an International Conference on Climate Change and Security in Singapore on 11-12 October 2007. The conference is one of the key major activities organized by the RSIS' programme on Non-Traditional Security (NTS) in Asia.



The discussions at this policy forum served to highlight the complex challenges of climate change in Asia and their salience beyond the region. In the opening remarks, Ambassador Barry Desker, Dean of the RSIS, remarked that as with other non-traditional security issues, climate change has now dominated the security agenda of many states in the region. The global consensus on the grave security challenges posed by climate change is, however, not matched by a consensus on how best to address this problem. Ironically, whilst there is agreement on the need for a new global framework to observe the key principles put forward by the United Nations Framework on Climate Change - particularly on the reduction of carbon emissions - the contentions between the developed and the developing countries on how to proceed remain a serious obstacle in the global mission to mitigate the impact of climate change. Thus, for Asia and Europe, there are at least three reasons why climate change must be placed on top of their security agenda. These are: the severe consequences of climate change, the need for concrete Asian action on mitigating its impact, and the emerging initiatives that are coming out from both regions in response to the challenges of climate change.



Two opening addresses on the global and Asian perspective on climate change emphasized this point of view. Jose Romero from the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), Switzerland, highlighted the need for the international community to increase what he calls "environmental intelligence" to address the global consequences of climate change. Another Asian perspective was delivered by Mr Terence Siew, Head of the Climate Change Unit at the National Environment Agency in Singapore. Siew argued that while climate change is a global problem that requires global solutions, it is nevertheless important to better understand the security implications of climate change on Asia's growth and prosperity. He also noted the efforts and initiatives of the Singapore government in dealing with climate change. The two panels on climate change and security: issues and challenges covered a diverse range of aspects, in particular environment and sustainable development, human insecurities, the impacts on natural habitats and marine and coastal environments as well as the extent to which climate change is a cause of violent conflict and wars. Presenters provided great insight to the issues at hand and provided a series of recommendations, which was compiled to be presented to policymakers at the UNFCCC meeting in Bali in early December 2007. (S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, RSIS)



The report and the presentations of the conference are available at

http://www.rsis-ntsasia.org/activities/network-activities/environment/ccnsecurity.htm

Published in: ECC-Newsletter, February 2008