Climate Security: The Role of Knowledge and Scientific Information in the Making of a Nexus

The book explores how climate change creates a climate-security nexus, linking conflicts to climate-related risks. It examines the role of knowledge in constructing this nexus and the ways in which the international community can better integrate the situations of people at the frontlines of climate change into policymaking.

Format: Hardback
Length: 186 pages
Publication date: 01 December 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Climate change has profound implications for global security, with potential impacts ranging from increased geopolitical tensions to humanitarian crises. One area of concern is the link between climate change and conflicts, which has been referred to as the "climate-security nexus." This book presents an empirical study of the role of knowledge in the making of this nexus, exploring how different actors, including governments, international organizations, and civil society, use knowledge to shape their responses to climate change and its associated security risks.

The book begins by examining the historical relationship between climate change and conflicts, highlighting how climate-related factors have contributed to wars, displacement, and other forms of violence in various parts of the world. It then explores the ways in which knowledge is used to construct and perpetuate the climate-security nexus, including the use of framing, narrative, and scientific evidence.

The author argues that the climate-security nexus is not a natural or inevitable outcome of climate change, but rather a product of specific political and social processes. These processes include the global political economy, power relations, and the distribution of resources and vulnerabilities. The book also highlights the ways in which different actors use knowledge to justify their responses to climate change, including the use of military force, economic sanctions, and diplomatic negotiations.

One of the key themes of the book is the fragmented role of the sciences in shaping the climate-security nexus. The author argues that the scientific community has played a limited role in shaping public discourse and policy responses to climate change, largely due to the dominance of certain narratives and the marginalization of dissenting voices. The book also highlights the ways in which scientific knowledge can be used to support or undermine specific policy interventions, depending on the way in which it is presented and interpreted.

The author proposes several recommendations for improving the integration of the situations of people at the frontlines of climate change into policymaking. These recommendations include the need for greater interdisciplinary collaboration, the development of more robust evidence-based policymaking processes, and the recognition of the rights and needs of impacted populations. The book also highlights the importance of engaging with local communities and indigenous peoples in the development and implementation of climate change policies.

In conclusion, this book provides a valuable contribution to the growing body of literature on climate-security links. It offers a nuanced and empirically grounded analysis of the role of knowledge in the making of the climate-security nexus, highlighting the ways in which different actors use knowledge to shape their responses to climate change and its associated security risks. The book's recommendations for improving the integration of the situations of people at the frontlines of climate change into policymaking offer practical insights for policymakers and practitioners working in this field.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032587936