Citation

Brauch HG. Int. Soc. Sci. J. 2008; 59: 19-48.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, UNESCO, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1468-2451.2008.00631.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Peace and security are goals of the UN Charter. In 2005, Kofi Annan addressed three pillars of human security: freedom from want, freedom from fear and freedom to live in dignity. This chapter examines two conceptual discussions on human and environmental security in the social sciences and in the UN system, and considers conceptual linkages for a people‐centred environmental security concept and the environmental dimension of human security. It assesses the environmental challenges for human security posed by climate change, desertification, water, and natural hazards. It concludes that natural hazards pose manifold threats, challenges, vulnerabilities and risks for human, environmental, national and international security. Addressing environmental dangers to security requires a combination of strategic instruments and policies to reduce the vulnerability to hazards and the risks for affected societal groups. This requires a dual strategy for dealing with the short‐term situational impact of extreme weather events and natural hazards and long‐term structural impacts of global environmental change.