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Environmental Security Heats Up as Obama Administration Tackles Climate, Energy

Posted on: Tuesday, 21 April 2009, 09:26 CDT

Latest ECSP Report Covers New Security Challenges: Environment, Population, Health

WASHINGTON, April 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "Environmental security is making a comeback," says Geoff Dabelko, director of the Environmental Change and Security Program, on the eve of Earth Day and as the 100th day of Barack Obama's presidency approaches. "Most notably in the United States, where the Obama administration has not shied from tackling the non-traditional challenges that impact security -- particularly climate change."

However, Dabelko cautions, "We must use this attention wisely and not fuel false fears of 'climate wars.'" In the latest issue of the Environmental Change and Security Program Report, he names three key pitfalls to avoid:

• Don't oversell the links between climate change and violent conflict or terrorism;
• Beware of "knock-on" effects, such as rising food prices spurred by demand for biofuels; and
• Don't ignore existing, pressing problems that threaten lives daily, like population growth, poverty, lack of clean water and sanitation, and infectious diseases.

http://www.wilsoncenter.org/topics/pubs/ECSPReport13_Foreword.pdf

Also in ECSP Report 13:

New Directions in Demographic Security: Seven experts analyze the links connecting conflict to environmental change and population dynamics, including migration, rapid population growth, and age structure.

http://www.wilsoncenter.org/topics/pubs/ECSPReport13_DemographicSecurity.pdf

UN Environment Programme: From Conflict to Peacebuilding: "If people cannot find clean water for drinking, wood for shelter and energy, or land for crops, what are the chances that peace will be successful and durable? Very slim," says David Jensen.

http://www.wilsoncenter.org/topics/pubs/ECSPReport13_Jensen.pdf

An Ethical Approach to Population and Climate Change: Suzanne Petroni calls for "a thoughtful and deliberative dialogue around voluntary family planning's contribution to mitigating climate change."

http://www.wilsoncenter.org/topics/pubs/ECSPReport13_Petroni.pdf

Water Conflict and Cooperation: Four policy briefs find that although water rarely leads to wars between countries, it frequently contributes to local-level conflict.

http://www.wilsoncenter.org/topics/pubs/ECSPReport13_NavigatingPeace.pdf

Download the entire issue of Environmental Change and Security Program Report 13: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/ECSPReport13

The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars is the living, national memorial to President Wilson established by Congress in 1968 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. It is a nonpartisan institution, supported by public and private funds, engaged in the study of national and world affairs. http://www.wilsoncenter.org

Since 1994, the Wilson Center's Environmental Change and Security Program has explored the connections among environmental challenges and their links to conflict and security. http://www.wilsoncenter.org/ecsp

Sharon McCarter, Director of Outreach and Communications

Phone: (202) 691-4016

sharon.mccarter@wilsoncenter.org

SOURCE Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

Source: PR Newswire

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