Merging the Environmental and Security Sectors in Climate Risk Responses

Jan 3, 2022 | Alexis Eberlein
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Environmental security notions have evolved over the past 30 years. Once a sub-field of Security and Peace Studies focusing on how environmental issues correlate with modern security theories and policies, the concept is rapidly merging environmental and security sectors. Former Greek Naval Officer in the Hellenic Navy and current environmental security scholar Dimitrios Kantemnidis’ expertise sits at the center of the two merging fields. His military background informs perspectives on growing environmental security risks and potential responses for civilian and military actors.

As a career Naval Officer, Kantemnidis became well versed in how environmental phenomena can impact the success of military operations. He also witnessed the significant environmental damage military exercises can cause through mass consumption of fossil fuel, anti-submarine exercises, and weapons testing. Leaders in the EU and NATO must integrate their understanding of environmental risks into all aspects of their work, including diplomacy, development, and defense.

The debate over the environmental risks posed by military operations and the risks to individuals posed by short- and long-term environmental changes started in academia and has now spread to security institutions. Academic debate on the subject has not resulted in a unanimous definition of environmental security for two reasons. First, there is no consensus on the term ‘security’ as it means different things for different actors. Second, there are numerous sources of environmental risk, as well as a wide range of resilience capabilities for various stakeholders.