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

WHAT TYPES OF POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS CAN ONE MAKE GLOBALLY? Despite the complex nature of human security, and the ongoing debate on the role of environmental degradation as a cause of, or contributor to, insecurity, there is little doubt that we need to give greater consideration to environmental deterioration and resource scarcity in our development assistance activities. This implies a major emphasis on promoting sustainable development and its ecological, economic and social manifestations, and ensuring human security. More specific recommendations include: Develop a system to help anticipate future threats to security which might be triggered by environmental disruptions, such as the vulnerability model presented above; Focus efforts on identifying adaptation mechanisms, and how these mechanisms might be reinforced in vulnerable communities and regions; Develop case studies of how environmental degradation influences migration, with specific consideration of developing procedures to assist those affected by environmental disruptions; Develop better working relationships among human rights, environment, population and migration organizations; Recognize the feedback between environmental degradation and human security, and assist receiving regions to ensure minimal environmental impacts of the migration flows triggered by environmental catastrophes; Develop integrated assessment procedures for policies and programs to ensure that assistance does not aggravate environmental degradation; Provide assistance to countries most vulnerable to future environmental change; and Recognize that human rights and the environment — indeed, human security and all its components — should be the cornerstone of any assistance policies.