GLOSSARY
Global environment change
Environmental security
Anthropocene
Climate change
1.1
Addressing the issue of Global Environment Change (GEC) requires one to understand
the concept of the Anthropocene. It is as important of a concept as it helps to situate the
causes and consequences of Global Environment Change through time. Brauch and
Spring (2011) in their writing built on the definition introduced by Crutzen (2002) who
defines it as:
“a new geologic epoch in which [hu]mankind has emerged as a globally significant and potentially
intelligent – force capable of reshaping the face of the planet.”
Although it might not have caused unanimity, Brauch and Spring (2011), through their
studies of other authors, pointed to humans’ activities as having a growing and often
negative impact on the environment, and on humankind. This is true to some extent. It is
important however to understand the scope of the model. The Anthropocene can see
both harmful and regenerative impact that humans can have on the world. The purpose
of this piece of writing calls for coping with the harmful effect that is also and unfortunately
so, the most significant so far.
The acceptance of the Anthropocene model and the search for eventual solutions against
the harmful impacts of human activities during that period led the adoption of the
‘sustainable development’ concept mentioned by Brauch and Spring (2011) and explained
in Brundtland (1987), which in turn try to reestablish a different understanding of security
(Brauch and Spring, 2011).
The editing of ‘Global Environmental and Human Security Handbook for the
Anthropocene’ (GEHSHA) endorses this objective and offers to approach this new
concept of security through different lenses (Brauch and Spring, 2011). If we are not
fighting against ourselves, what are we to fight against and more importantly, how are we
to defend ourselves against it? This volume on Coping with Global Environmental
Change, Disasters and Security – Threats, Challenges, Vulnerabilities and Risks, is a
further focus on strategies, policies and measures, as well as goals and means for dealing
with these manifold new security ‘threats, challenges, vulnerabilities and risks’ (Brauch
and Spring, 2011).
This volume chooses to address Global Environment Change and the process of this
securitization under three stages. They are the emergence of a multidisciplinary scientific
field of study, the development of a new major policy field and the declaration of selected
global changes as political issues, all related environmental security (Brauch and Spring,
2011).
Regarding the security threats of GEC and the appropriate responses, the UN issued in
a report highlighting that climate mitigation and adaptation, economic development,
democratic governance and strong local and national institutions, and reinforced
international cooperation could be the current most effective threats minimizers (Brauch
and Spring, 2011).
It is interesting to note that only through collaboration, then the humankind can thrive
again. It is in a way a call against nationalism that have only had negative impacts on the
world scene. Jayantha Dhanapala (2011) warns against the known consequences of
nationalism and further affirms that it can a threat to a global interdependence which he
intends, too, is the solution to climate change. Global cooperation is definitely one of the
most effective way to achieve a greater good.
Even among the responses of different nations to this report, the most relevant for water
justice being the ones of the Pacific Small Island Developing States since they are among
the countries most concerned by water security aside from desertic areas and those
facing desertification, they solicitate the UN for immediate actions that could tackle long
term security issues. Brauch and Spring (2011) mentioned:
“Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) pointed to the bio physical factors (rising sea
levels, changing weather patterns and natural disasters, soil erosion, loss of coral reefs) that could
have security implications for food (fisheries, agriculture) and water security, public health,
physical and social infrastructure, the loss of lives and livelihoods, migration (internal, external),
loss of islands, territorial integrity, sovereignty, legal rights, conflict and unrest, as well as for sociocultural impacts.”
It is no longer a question of ‘if’ but a question of ‘when’, when comes to the effect that
water can have on those islands. If we are to discuss water justice, it is imperative for the
world organisations to orient their policies and efforts towards an approach more
considerate of the biodiversity of water but also and eventually on the development of
techniques that help to have usable water or to protect lands from being flooded. Venice
is a good place to start. The efforts to keep the island afloat while considering the
biodiversity of the lagoon are exercises that should be encouraged world-wide since it
could lead to breakthrough technologies that could be sustainable enough to be applied
to the endangered islands for example.
Addressing the issue of GEC starts with the understanding and acceptance of the
Anthropocene concept. It is also said that the acceptance of this model and the search
for solutions led to the adoption of the 'sustainable development' concept, which in turns
tries to establish another understanding of security. This volume endorses the idea and
offers multidisciplinary approaches to security. In a nutshell, the question is how we
should protect both ourselves and the environment. An attempt to answer this question
was made through a report by the UN, in which global interdependence was identified as
the root solution to GEC.
The report and the responses associated with it highlight a relevant problem to water
justice; that of the PSIDS, most concerned by water security. This shows that policies
should be made to address this of issue and Venice
I believe that when it comes to water justice, Venice could be use as case study. The
efforts made to save the city could reflect on numerous islands
The PSIDS under threat of water security could benefit from the example of Venice and
the efforts it is making to save itself. Nevertheless, it would still require global intervention
since those countries are ‘developing’. It can be seen however that help is voluntary, and
many countries would sensibly see their interest before the bigger picture and this affects
the idea of interdependency mentioned as a solution.