Climate and security in the Indo-Asia Pacific

This report presents an overview of climate change-related threats to security in the Indo-Asia Pacific region. It provides ideas on how increased security community engagement, alongside development and diplomatic actors, can help minimize and manage these threats. The report also illustrates how incorporating climate change into security and defence policy and planning, incorporating climate security issues into development policy and planning, and engaging with security professionals working in this region, can support regional stability in a changing world. Finally, the report makes the security case for major civilian investments in climate change adaptation and mitigation.

The report articulates six main points:

1. Addressing the root causes of climate change should be a security priority for the region.
2. Climate change should be higher on the regional security agenda.
3. Climate change is worsening underlying security tensions in the region.
4. Many security dynamics in the region are highly sensitive to climate change.
5. Foreseeable security challenges related to climate change underly a regional Responsibility to Prepare and Prevent.
6. Better coordination between security communities is critical for combating climate-related security threats.