The security threat of environmental problems such as climate change and environmental pollution should not be underestimated according to Barend ter Haar, Senior Visiting Research Fellow at The Clingendael Institute. In this article published on the website of Security and Human Rights Monitor he addresses the threats that have been recognized by the OSCE – The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe - and discusses if there is more to be done.
Environmental problems, such as climate change, pollution and the loss of bio-diversity are threatening the security of OSCE participating States and their populations. The OSCE recognizes that it has to address these threats, but should it do more? To answer this question, the article starts with considering four preliminary questions: Is there a need for the OSCE to become more active? Is there a mandate to become more active? Is there an organisational framework for a more active role and what has been accomplished so far?
Full article here
Picture credits: OSCE/Zaur Zeynal