What is environmental security and why is it important?

A first approach to the concept forces to make a small historical review of the international perspective in which it is included. Not surprisingly, the idea of environmental security is related to the way we live at the geopolitical level. Basically, based on the division of the world in countries that, as is well known, have historically turned their military policy in armed conflicts, as well as in protection against different dangers.

At present, the enemy has changed and, above all, has multiplied. Both because there are more resources to combat them and by the emergence of new objectives, according to the new times.

Therefore, environmental security can be considered a global problem that is addressed both at the institutional level following national policies and from an international approach. It is inevitable that it is so, and not sun because the threats suffered by the environment are also, but also because the military security perspective has given way to a broader vision that, together with the need for environmental security, are added other issues related to poverty, food insecurity, social instability.

It is difficult to cite a date or moment in which these social, economic, human and environmental aspects began to relate together, but as milestones we could cite the emergence of ecological awareness and environmental movement in general, since the 20s, between the dawn and mid -twentieth century.

Another key moment was the eighties, when the idea of environmental security began to popularize including social, economic and human elements, although it was not until the 90s when FAO introduced the concept of “human security rights” as part of the universe that encompasses the wide concept of human rights. And, together with this, environmental security also gained universal meaning, as multidisciplinary as each specific case.

Indeed, each specific case has endless factors that must be analyzed and, in short, provide it with differentiating characteristics. Environmental security in the Mediterranean, for example, can cover topics such as:

• Mediterranean desertification
• The advance of climate change
• Extinction of species
• The overfishing
• The lack of water resources
• Forest fires
• Heat waves
• Chronic droughts
• Harvest losses
• Economic and Food Safety Problems.

In areas where the situation can become dramatic as a result of extreme events or the same increased sea level, let’s put the measures also aimed at preventing food security problems and even great migrations. Human and environmental dramas are added with national and international security problems, for example, in the case of environmental catastrophes, such as radioactive leaks or oil spills, among others equally, urban areas that accuse great pollutionas with many Chinese or Indian citiesThey are an environmental security problem. And not only local, because very often the causes also cause major environmental dramas. It is what happens, without going any further, with the strong dependence of coal and other fossil fuels in numerous Asian countries, such as those mentioned.

Yes ok USA It also has a great dependence on coal, its environmental security problem has another profile. In all cases, however, they are large world emitters of greenhouse gases.

Casuistics, therefore, is huge, but all problems require policies that contemplate the problem from an environmental security perspective. And, of course, the defense of these dangers, logically, requires not only local prevention policies that attack the causes of the problem, but also globally.

The examples pointed out give an idea of what the threats that put into check environmental security may be. In general, the concept refers at the same time to security problems caused by human societies in the environment as those others caused by the environment It affects societies.

On many occasions, the two causes interrelate and end up causing problems of both types, creating vicious situations difficult to solve.

Some of the most important environmental threats caused by the human being are:

• The drought
• Deforestation
• Biodiversity loss
• The degradation of environments
• Pollution
• Toxic waste in armed conflicts
• Issued after accidents occur
• When carrying out resources for resource extraction

As Environmental crises They affect man can sign up, for example:

• The epidemics that cause extreme weather events (storms, tornadoes, etc.)
• The lack of electricity to meet demands of cold or heat waves.

It is not necessary to aim much more to understand the importance of environmental security to prevent both a significant impact on society and the effects produced by the trace of the human being in the environment. We are simply condemned to understand each other, and as harmful is human action as the force of nature. What will the future hold? No one knows it, but with our ill -treatment, there is no doubt that it will turn against us.

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