The Politics of Security and the Environment

Let’s name some political stereotypes. Conservatives: tough on crime, strong on security, pro-business, and the environment is an afterthought. Liberals: weak on crime, wishy-washy when it comes to national security, anti-business and strong when it comes to the environment, social welfare and social safety nets and development.

I want to ask a question though. Whoever said that the environment doesn’t involve security? And here I’m talking about real politick, those issues that involve honest to gosh boots on the ground. Environmental scarcity or environmental disasters are quite capable of involving national security issues. Egypt and Sudan have both independently used the threat of war in order to ensure access to the Nile and its waters. That seems to me to be a national security issue. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, some of the first responders to this natural disaster were the National Guard. This self-same group of reservists are also getting deployed to Iraq. When the armed forces is called out en masse in reaction to a situation, I would humbly propose that it has therefore become an issue relevant to national security. When extreme weather is able to disrupt communications, and is able to degrade infrastructure and social cohesion, that sounds like a national security issue.

Another example if I may. There is a very particular reason that there is an American National Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and that is to ensure that America’s energy dependence on petroleum is not held immediately hostage by hostile countries or their actions. Energy security is a vital facet of national security.

Energy security is also closely tied to energy consumption. The more energy that is consumed, the more a nation is dependent on an energy supply, which means the more important for national security it is to protect that energy supply. It’s been demonstrated that energy dependence and climate change are inter-related. Energy consumption levels can have a direct impact on greenhouse gas emissions (as in many jurisdictions at least part of the energy supply mix is based upon fossil fuels). Additionally, from the other side, changes in normal climactic events also have an impact on energy demand. As discussed above, the greater the energy demand, the more energy insecure a nation.

Environmental scarcities and natural disasters are issues of national security. It’s time that our leaders begin to understand that the environment is not just a “tree-hugger” issue, but also one that should concern even the most right-wing of conservatives.

For other posts on Security and the Environment:

• Putin, Russia and the North
• Georgian Situation Continues the Quest for The Prize of Oil, Money and Power
• Northwest Passage; Myth or Reality?

Photo Credit: Soldiermediacenter via Flickr Commons

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