ABSTRACT
In March 2012, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued a special report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation.1 This report outlined the range and impacts of natural disasters that are associated with climate change. It integrated several examples of securitized language when discussing climate change impacts, including several mentions of food security; discussions of “environmental resources that support human welfare and security”;2 the impacts of natural disasters on “psychological well-being and sense of security”;3 “lack of security” impacting vulnerability to climate change;4 and concerns about “local water conflicts.”5 In fact, there is an entire section of the report on climate change and violent conflict. This report is not unique in linking the environment to security, but instead is one among a flurry of publications that links environmental change with elements of security. Climate change in particular has inspired a host of securitized language by various actors,6 however security–environment connections span to multiple environmental issue areas.
