Around the world, politicians and armies of experts are coming together to consider the world’s development agenda after the Millennium Development Goals expire in 2015. The risks posed by climate change will feature highly in discussions that shape the post MDG era. Climate change is not just about rising temperatures and sea levels. It is about health, education and poverty, with an increasing awareness that climate change impacts on food, energy, water, resource and social security. In his book Climate Wars, military historian Gwynne Dyer makes some alarming predictions, noting that ‘in a number of the great powers, climate-change scenarios are already playing a large and increasing role in the military planning process.’ Pacific island countries remain on the frontline, vulnerable not only to rising seas but also the global responses to the emerging climate security threats. Together these amplify the region’s development challenges – for you cannot have development without security.
Key points:
- Climate change amplifies many of existing development challenges in the Pacific beyond the obvious environmental concerns – addressing climate change is about securing our future.
- Migration, both internally and externally, is likely to be the biggest consequence of climate change in the Pacific and internationally.
- Access to fresh water and food is already a key concern, as is energy security for island nations reliant on oil and gas imports.
- Ongoing geopolitical competition in the Pacific will also play into climate change security scenarios, particularly as aid and resettlement programs may be used as leverage to gain influence.
- Factoring in a holistic approach to climate change to the post MDG development agenda has the potential to bring real benefits for Pacific island security and wellbeing, which is why it should be discussed when formulating the new global development goals.
