South East Green Euro-MP To Talk Climate and Conflict in Haywards Heath
06 March 2008
Hosted by Mid Sussex Global Peace Campaign, the event will provide an excellent opportunity to discuss the importance of placing climate change and environmental degradation in the context of security policy.
Dr Lucas, who sits on the European Parliament’s influential Environment Committee, will highlight the urgent need for political leaders and policy makers to recognise that climate change is not simply an environmental problem, but a problem of international security.
She said: “World poverty, climate change and peace are inextricably linked. Disasters driven by climate change – floods, storms, and droughts – present the most widespread direct risk to human settlements.
“If the current degree of global warming continues, we could expect to see millions of people permanently displaced; up to 4 billion people experiencing growing water shortages, and significantly declining crop yields leading to worldwide deaths from malnutrition.
Dr Lucas continued: “By framing the issue as one of climate security, governments will be forced to mobilise resources on the same scale as for traditional security threats, like the so-called “war on terror”, which might just leverage some of the billions currently being spent on replacing our nuclear weapons system, for example.
“A recent Pentagon report predicted that abrupt climate change could bring the planet to “the edge of anarchy” as countries develop a nuclear threat to defend and secure dwindling food, water and energy supplies."
She concluded: “But the trouble is that climate change doesn’t look like a typical security problem – with clear and immediate consequences. So we urgently need to redefine security – and think in terms of environmental security, not just military security."
Climate and Conflict - The Risks and Solutions
Public Meeting with Caroline Lucas MEP
Mid Sussex Global Peace Campaign
7 March 2008 - 7.45pm
The Studio - Clair Hall, Haywards Heath
ENDS
