Running on empty: The human security consequences of resource depletion and biodiversity decline

As discussed in Chapters 3 and 4 and elsewhere, the implications of over-exploiting resources has periodically been framed in the context of national or global security. In spite of this, international political progress on tackling desertification, deforestation and biodiversity decline has been limited, even in the face of clear proof that the phenomena are occurring and having serious human security consequences. In these three broad policy areas the problems of national and corporate self-interest present barriers that have up until now proved more difficult to overcome than in the areas of pollution and ozone depletion.