斯德哥尔摩国际和平研究所-Responses-to-climate_20页_976kb

Summary of "Responses to Climate-Related Security Risks: Regional Organizations in Asia and Africa"

Core Content

This document analyzes the responses of four regional intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) to climate-related security risks: ASEAN, SAARC, ECOWAS, and IGAD. It highlights the transnational and multidimensional nature of climate-related security risks, which span economic, political, military, and environmental sectors. The study explores how these organizations have framed climate security, the policies they have developed, and the actions they have taken to address these risks. It also identifies the challenges they face and offers insights into potential ways forward.

Main Findings

Climate-Related Security Risks in Asia

• ASEAN has been addressing climate-related security risks since 2007, with the ASEAN Declaration on Environmental Sustainability marking a key moment in its discourse.
• Climate change is seen as a threat to prosperity and stability, prompting ASEAN to include climate security in its socio-cultural and economic frameworks.
• ACCI (ASEAN Climate Change Initiative) is an institutional framework under the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, focusing on adaptation, food security, and disaster management.
• The Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (2010–15) is a key policy for disaster preparedness and response, including risk assessment and early warning systems.
• The Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (2010–2015) addresses energy security, covering renewable energy and clean coal technologies.
• Climate-resilient agriculture has been a focus since 2013, supported by external donors such as Germany.
• Despite these efforts, implementation of climate policies is hampered by national sovereignty principles, weak internal coordination, and lack of member state commitment.

Climate-Related Security Risks in Africa

• ECOWAS is not detailed in the document, but it is noted as one of the key regional IGOs in Africa that is increasingly involved in climate-related security issues.
• IGAD is also mentioned, but the analysis is limited to ASEAN and SAARC in this summary.

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

• Established in 1985, SAARC has a history of addressing climate-related security risks, though its effectiveness is limited.
• The 1987 Kathmandu Declaration was the first to explicitly address environmental degradation and climate change.
• SAARC has developed frameworks such as the Comprehensive Framework on Disaster Management and the SAARC Seed Bank, but these have not been fully operationalized.
• The SAARC Food Bank and SADKN (South Asia Disaster Knowledge Network) are important platforms for knowledge sharing and regional cooperation, but their impact is constrained by geopolitical tensions, particularly between India and its neighbors.
• Climate-related financing is not provided by SAARC; most projects are funded through external mechanisms like the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF).

Key Challenges

• ASEAN struggles with internal coordination, limited institutional capacity, and member state sovereignty, which prevent a unified and effective response to climate-related security risks.
• SAARC faces existential challenges, including geopolitical distrust, especially between India and other member states, and weak policy implementation despite extensive declarations.
• Climate security is often treated as a secondary concern in these organizations, with a stronger focus on traditional security issues.
• Institutional fragmentation and lack of central coordination hinder the development and execution of comprehensive climate policies.

Ways Forward

• ASEAN needs to enhance coordination mechanisms, particularly between the Political-Security Community (APSC) and the Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC), to address cross-sectoral climate risks.
• A stronger political-security focus is necessary, especially after events like the 2008 Cyclone Nargis, where ASEAN's political pressure was critical for disaster relief.
• SAARC requires greater cooperation and trust-building among member states to effectively implement climate-related security policies.
• Regional cooperation is essential for adaptation and mitigation efforts, as climate risks transcend national boundaries.
• External support and capacity-building are vital for the successful implementation of climate-related security initiatives.

Conclusion

The study emphasizes that climate-related security risks are increasingly shaping the policy agendas of regional IGOs, but the effectiveness of these organizations in addressing these risks is constrained by institutional and political challenges. The analysis suggests that cooperation, coordination, and policy alignment are crucial for advancing climate security in both Asia and Africa. The comparative perspective highlights the need for institutional reform and greater regional solidarity to effectively respond to the growing security implications of climate change.