Global Security and Climate Change - Essay Example

Global Security and Climate Change November 13, Introduction A continuing complexity in today’s society is based on the issues with climate change. The environmental alterations which are taking place are rapidly altering the earth and are attributed to pollution and abuse of the land. However, climate change is not only problematic because of environmental shifts but also leads to threats with national and global security. The issues with global security are being heightened, specifically because of the association with political movements in response to climate change. Different countries are reacting to the climate change by taking action that oppose the policies and regulations for the environment. As this occurs, nations and groups become threatened by the environmental actions and may response negatively. The link between climate change and threats to global security become pertinent in understanding the complexities that are arising from both the environmental concerns and the political affiliations and actions in response. Defining Climate Change and Politics The concept of climate change is developed on the theory that there is an alteration in the system of the earth. Increasing temperatures, changes in resources and natural disasters are all pointing to the definition of climate change. This was specifically announced by the politician Al Gore, with his announcement of the threat of global warming. The theory which was presented was one that was based on the environmental changes leading to destruction of the earth. The destruction was compounded specifically because of pollution, destruction of natural resources and the impact of the environment on different countries. The combination of these environmental factors led to scientists finding different understanding with environmental impact while developing specific risks in regards to climate change. Environmentalists began to demand that natural resources be used in a different way. As this increased, were also opposing groups that found the changes in use of resources created a sense of risk, specifically in terms of politics, economics, social and cultural demands (Stern, 7: 2006). The impact of global warming and the current shift to climate change has created specific political responses, specifically which is related to economics and the need to monitor resources at a global level. The introduction of climate change led to interference from political organizations in regards to taking action, including the UN and the intergovernmental panel. The concepts which each of these governmental structures have carried are to show different perspectives and angles which are associated with the environment and the contributions which have been made. The first component of this is based on investigating the detrimental effects of pollution and how climate change may affect various regions. There are also governmental statements that show the affects in terms of using environmental resources from other countries. The economics are beginning to fluctuate in specific regions because of the need to get new resources and to change the components that are a part of the understanding with climate change. It is the international government actions that are taking place that are beginning to affect others in politics while receiving a response from other countries in terms of political affiliations and expectations (Griggs, Noguer, 267: 2002). Global Affiliations and Climate Change The global warming debate is one which began with expectations and pointing of problems from politics, all which were related to detriments on the environment and which linked to political structures in various countries. Today, the concept of climate change is leading to other political regulations expectations, as well as political interference at a global level. The two main political entities that are continuing to work with environmental causes include NGOs and political associations. Another set of individuals that are directly affected globally are corporations and business entities, specifically with the push to change the economic standards in the business in terms of being green and offering different upgrades that are environmentally friendly. Each of these entities, while divided in the focus and expectations for assisting the environment, is bound to certain concepts and initiatives that need to be taken in relation to climate change. The first is to develop policies that change the way in which resources are used as well as what is expected in terms of implementing new uses of environmental needs. The second is structural factors that are being pushed to change, specifically because of political regulations within the environment and the way that it is approached. The globalized entity as well as the political affiliations on a worldwide level is focused on bargaining as well as creating policies associated with changing the environment and the use of resources. Rather than a scientific basis, this is creating an affiliation with political controls and affiliations at a global basis (Newell, 7: 2000). The controversy which is arising with the politics of climate change is based on the expectations in different regions. The controversy is now considered political, as opposed to environmental, because of the movement into globalization, economics and affiliations with other political groups. The main change is based on public policies that have been raised nationality and which have been incorporated into other global regions because of political influences and a push to redefine what resources should be available. The climate change has become a policy debate as many countries are opposed to the ideas of alterations in the climate change. For instance, policies are now able to be implemented through the FCCC, also known as the Framework Convention on Climate Change. This group works as an international body and is able to put political policies into place at an international level. As this occurs, it changes the economics of an area and alters the expectations that are related to climate change. The first policies by the FCCC were not met by nations, specifically which led to further reinforcement through the Kyoto Protocol which was based on political affiliations and bargaining to change the use of resources. Most countries are rejecting these policies, which creates friction in terms of resources, policies and international agendas that are expected to be used for climate change (Dessler, Parson, 28: 2010). As the international politics, policies and debates continue to arise, are also global regions that are beginning to see the fight for resources as a threat. Cities for climate protection are being implemented in various regions from one perspective. However, there is a lack in the international relations which oppose the ideologies of climate change and the restrictions that are a part of this. It is now being noted that the ideologies and policies which are being opposed through different international relation groups are also altering the processes with different forms of authority. If the authority is not accepted, than opposition from specific groups may arise, such as terrorist groups who see the policies as a threat to the nation. The forms of authority that are creating the demands for climate change policies then become opposed politically, as they try to set environmental expectations that are a part of each region. The concept of climate change then is no longer linked to the environment, but is considered a threat by specific groups in various countries, such as through terrorist and anti – governmental groups. The result is that the climate change policies which are moving into forced implementation create friction with the levels of authority that are a part of the political groups (Betsill, Bulkley, 141: 2006). Climate Change and National Security The different approaches to climate change and the turn into political policies and leadership is one that is leading specific social groups and political leaders to oppose the policies which have been set in place. As this continues to rise with recognition and publication from mass media, policy oriented implementation and the fight over resources is also growing in global groups that oppose this concept. The dynamics of politics and mass media continue to incorporate different levels of disparity in terms of climate change while showing how some countries are opposing the concept of climate change while others are moving toward initiating global policies. As the mass media and political organizations continue to associate these specific concepts are groups which are opposed to the political movement of changing the use of resources that are beginning to rise within society (Weingart, Pansegrau, 261: 2000). The first response that occurs with the enforcement of climate change policies comes with security threats at a national level. Those who are known to enforce the policies politically and to change the system in terms of resources are immediately targeted for the political policies that lead to global threats. The main component of global warming was announced by Al Gore, making the United States responsible for stating that there weren’t enough resources that were on the earth. This was followed by the associations with the United States being a leader in the implementation of groups and policies to further the threats of climate change and the lack of resources available. As these threats continued to rise, there was also stronger opposition to the movements of the United States. The complexities of national security then affiliate with the political opposition of how climate change is also altering the use of resources in different regions (Goldsmith, 515: 2006). An issue that is beginning to rise as a result of the concept of national security and climate change is based on the rise in violence that is attributed to the changes in politics. It has been found that environmental degradation through policies and the announcement of a lack of resources have led to opposition by different social groups. Many of the violent outbreaks that are taking place internationally are linked directly to the announcement of environmental scarcity announced by politicians. This is related to national areas that are dissatisfied with the implementation of policies and which are trying to find a way to create a voice to change the problem. However, the economic and social breakdown occurring is based on state failure and humanitarian disasters and the lack of correct responses from political affiliations. The inability to respond correctly to natural disasters within communities and the implementation of policies that are not conducive to the demands and needs of climate change during a specific time is some of the reasons why many of the effects on climate lead to negative political consequences and violent outbreaks (Busby, 474: 2010). The problem which is arising with violent outbreaks is specifically linked to the economic associations and the ideology that the lack of resources is raising within a nation. The violent outbreaks usually are intentional because of the lack of resources and the insecurity that is associated with this. To gather a voice and the attention needed and to look into the resources that are associated with a specific community, are several that will begin to consider violent outbreaks to find more resources. Developing countries are known to create these violent outbreaks and conflicts for resources; however, natural disasters within distinct communities lead to this same problem. The environmental security is established as a result, specifically because of the concept of finding ways to distribute resources among communities while lowering the levels of threat that are associated with not having the necessary resources available (Page, 33: 2000). The end result is that different communities are more likely to outbreak in bursts of violence because of the changing expectations in resources as well as the lack of resources that may result in developing countries. The violent conflict that occurs at a national level among various nations is one which is important to recognize because of the expected policies of the nations. Typically, the violent outbreaks and voice which is created is a result of the policies that are being forced among nations. For several, this creates a threat to the individual security, specifically because of the belief that a change in the resources available will create problems with available food and other resources. More important, the personal threat opposed is one which leads to economic threats, such as the need to have a specific amount of money that is associated with climate change. The threat to those that are working then turns to how this will affect monetary resources, specifically in terms of individual security. If the individuals become conflicted enough in terms of human security, then it leads to social demands and a consolidated group that begins to protest the political terms associated with climate change. The result is a response to fight for the resources and human security within the nation, which leads to risks in the national security (Barnett, Adger, 639: 2007). Climate Change and Global Security Another association which is considered with the environmental security is based on the political ties to those who are being forced to implement policies and receive assistance globally. If there are problems within the climate, then a nation is more likely to implement the policies of the UN and at an international basis. However, other groups may state that this is to turn each of the countries into one which is globalized and may alter the conflicts that are arising. The main implication that is causing opposition of security at a global level is based on those who oppose globalization and that aren’t interested in the conflicts over resources. Many that are against the globalized association with resources are stating that the implications of migration, conflicts over resources and failed states are causing activists to respond in a different manner. Anti – globalization becomes a main conflict in the announcements of various regions, specifically because of the belief that the policies and climate change are reinforced to create a global government and movement toward different use of resources (Barnett, 7: 2003). A specific change which is noted with climate change and global security is based on the changes with specific resources as well as how this is changing the relationships with other countries. There are several countries that are lacking in resources because of development that is currently occurring in the nation. Scarcity of food resources is a primary association with what should be available at a sustainable level as well as what is not available for food security. When the policies are implemented in countries that don’t have levels of food desired, then outbreaks begin to occur. Social groups and those who oppose the policies based on resources that should be controlled because of climate change then associate with different dimensions to the expectations of climate change. The concept of globalization, from this perspective, as well as the policies which are implemented for climate change, become problematic by those in society (Schmidhuber, Tubiello, 19703: 2007). The vulnerability of developing countries then leads to opposition in society and don’t provide sustainability among those in the groups. The socio – economic scenarios that result are ones that create a gap between the developing and underdeveloped countries, specifically because there isn’t the ability to implement policies, while fighting for resources becomes more problematic. The social structure begins to rebel and creates threats to global security specifically because of the misunderstandings in terms of resources and expectations. The economic scenario furthers this as several businesses at a global level are expected to change policies and structures, all which become a hindrance to the corporation, depending on the economic structure of the nation. The gap which is created then creates levels of rebellion which take place, either through more violent outbreaks, attacks against other nations, or rebellion against the policies which should be implemented (Arnell et al, 3: 2004). Another component which is affecting the global security is based on the implementation of policies that are rejected by societies at large and which begin to support the attacks toward developed nations that are implementing the policies. The conflicts are coming from direct associations with the socio – economic hindrance that is a part of the global warming issue and how this doesn’t provide support for different cultures, countries or ideologies associated with climate change. An example of this is the political push to change the greenhouse gases by implementing a carbon tax to different countries. The policy is one which is coming from the United States; however, the IPCC and FCCC are both conducting research to push this policy forward. Countries that are opposed to the climate change regulations and expectations are moving against those who are implementing these specific policies. More important, the economic burden that is created from developing countries is creating controversy. If the policy and changes continue to be pushed, then it becomes problematic and could rise to different groups attacking the nations that are trying to implement the policies. The economic burden then leads to threats and divisions at an international level, specifically which leads to threats in global security (Nordhaus, 1283: 2001). The complexities of global security are not only based on ideologies that are associated with opposition to climate change. The economics, association with social groups and the need to have different levels of security furthers in complexities because of the ethics involved. Many nations and individuals, as well as social groups, believe that the climate change policies and expectations are unethical and are being forced on nations without consideration to the cultural and social needs. The unethical belief then creates a response from specific groups to stop the forced policies for the environment and to begin to alter the way in which the communities are looked into. The threats to global security accumulate with the belief that the policies are not ethical in nature and don’t consider the justice needed for social and community groups as well as the need for specific resources among a nation. The result is protests based on the resources needed within the community (Patz et al, 397: 2009). Conclusion The threat to different countries in terms of climate change is one which holds specific complexities in terms of social, economic and political divisions. Climate change is no longer a term that implies only scientific proof that the earth is changing with time. More important, there is a direct association with the political regulations and policies for climate change. As policies begin to increase, are opposed groups that are breaking out in nations and at a global level. Opposition includes threats of security to human resources and violent outbreaks from natural disasters at a national level. The complexities are furthered with global outbreaks, including political opposition in terms of anti – globalization and the lack of ethical values to a specific nation. The result is the movement of climate change from an environmental problem to one which is associated specifically with the political policies that are being reinforced among various nations. 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