Navigating the Dilemmas of Climate Security: Is Just Securitization of Climate Change Possible?

Executive Summary

This paper delves into the complexities and dilemmas surrounding climate security, a phenomenon that has transformed from a future concern to an immediate global challenge. The paper analyzes the diverse threats presented by climate change toward various referent objects and delves into the dilemma of securitizing climate change, exploring the associated risks and benefits of framing it as a security issue. It identifies three referent objects at stake: human beings, ecosystems, and nation-states, each facing distinct threats. The differential impact of climate change adds complexity, considering disparities among urban and rural populations, generational divides, and varying impacts on nation-states. In order to overcome the dilemmas and complexities of climate security, the paper advocates for a just securitization approach inspired by Rita Floyd, emphasizing a balanced and ethically informed integration of climate change within the security dis course. However, operationalizing this approach raises challenging questions about prioritizing referent objects and addressing diverse perspectives. The paper proposes a focus on human beings as a pragmatic approach, and a macro-level securitization strategy is suggested to build a shared understanding of com mon goals and values. The paper concludes by emphasizing the provisional nature of these proposals, call ing for continuous exploration, and a re-politicization of the climate discourse to ensure inclusivity and rel evance across diverse perspectives.