TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION WHAT IS "HUMAN SECURITY"? WHAT TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE AFFECT HUMAN SECURITY? WHAT REGIONS ARE MOST AT RISK? ADAPTATION AND HUMAN SECURITY WHAT TYPES OF POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS CAN ONE MAKE GLOBALLY? MORE INFORMATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Global Environmental Change and Human Security The environmental problems of the poor will affect the rich as well, in the not too distant future, transmitted through political instability and turmoil. - Gro Harlem Brundtland INTRODUCTION The relationship between environmental degradation and political instability implied by Prime Minister Brundtland of Norway, and repeated in the work of the World Commission on Environment and Development (the Commission noted that, "… environment has become a fundamental factor in security issues in many regions already…") is indicative of a growing interest in so-called "unconventional" threats to security. Unconventional threats to security arise from the non-military activities of individuals and groups in society, or from changes in stocks and flows of resources available to groups or nation-states. They are often cumulative, and usually are not perceived as threats to security, at least initially. Examples which have been posed vary widely, from religious fundamentalism, which has surfaced in a number of countries and often involves conflict; human rights abuses; impoverishment; and the environment, the deterioration of which has caused widespread alarm. It appears that the increased concern over these "unconventional" threats is not misplaced: the U.S. Institute of Peace recently found 233 minority groups at risk from political or economic discrimination; the gap between rich and poor has increased over the past four decades, with the richest fifth of the world's population receiving 60 times the income of the poorest fifth (up from 30 in 1960); and water scarcity is affecting an increasing number of people, as are factors such as land degradation, deforestation, and environmental disasters. Much has been written in recent years on one of these topics — the possible link between environment and security. A number of authors have even called for a "redefinition of security," noting that environmental problems may be causally related to insecurity and conflict. Acceptance of this link between environment and security is by no means universal. However, it is commonly accepted that the insecurities posed by these "new" social, economic and environmental forces are not limited to the nation-state; quite the contrary, individuals and communities face the greatest risk.