Climate Change and Security

South Asia

Abstract

One of the biggest challenges to global peace and security in the
twenty-first century is climate change. This research article seeks to appraise
the security risks that climate change may pose to South Asia, more
specifically Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. It looks at the climate change
scenario of South Asian countries, particularly Bangladesh, India and Pakistan
and analyses through the lenses of two theoretical frameworks: a) human
security approach and b) conventional security approach. It claims that the
effects of climate change increase the human insecurities of the people of South
Asian countries as most of them are dependent on natural resources for their
livelihoods. These human insecurities lead them to migrate, most often
internally. But there is a possibility of cross-border migration to the
neighbouring countries due to climate change, notwithstanding the fact that
migration is already there for other reasons – for example, as economic
migrants, as refugees and so on. This, in turn may increase border tension
between and among the countries. This research also claims that climate
change may compound the water sharing issues of transborder rivers of South
Asia and may create potential traditional security problems.