Climate and Society: Climate Security, Natural Resources and Conflict Geography

Based on a framework of human-environment interactions, the class will focus on the security and conflict dimensions of natural resources and environmental change, in particular climate change. Based on an analysis of the geographic distribution of natural resources and environmental change, the conditions and factors of resource conflicts will be critically assessed and discussed, referring to the literature on environmental conflicts and the tragedy of the commons. Particular attention will be given to the recent debate on climate change and security where a conceptual framework will be presented on the complex climate-society interaction, with linkages between climate stress, natural resources, human needs, societal stability and violent conflict. To validate models and hypotheses on these relationships it is important to develop indicators and data on instability and conflict events. Based on the assessment of climate security risks by the German Advisory Council on Global Change, major conflict constellations will be analyzed, including water scarcity, food insecurity, flood disasters and environmentally-induced migration. A key issue will be the comparative analysis of different regional case studies for hot spots of climate change and environmental conflicts. After assessing the nexus of interrelated problems, a view will be given to the emerging policy debates on resource conflicts and the securitization of climate change and institutional processes to address these issues in security and climate policy, including international negotiations. Finally, integrated approaches to human-environment interactions and environmental policies will be introduced and discussed, including climate change mitigation and adaptation, concepts of environmental and human security, sustainable peace, international cooperation and conflict management, global governance and stakeholder participation.

3 credit points will be based on the following requirements:
*   Final Exam
*   Class participation, response to questions in class, preparation and discussion of readings 

Gleditsch, N.P. (2012): Special issue on climate change and conflict, Journal of Peace Research, 49.

Scheffran, J., Brauch, H.G., Brzoska, M., Link, P.M. & Schilling, J. (eds.) (2012): Climate Change, Human Security and Violent Conflict: Challenges for Societal Stability, Berlin, Springer Verlag, Hexagon Series, Vol. 8.

Scheffran, J., Brzoska, M., Kominek, J., Link, P.M. & Schilling, J. (2012): Climate change and violent conflict,Science, 336: 869-871.

Scheffran, J. & Battaglini, A. (2011): Climate and Conflicts - The security risks of global warming, Regional Environmental Change, 11 (Suppl. 1): 27-39.

WBGU (2008): World in Transition – Climate Change as a Security Risk, German Advisory Council on Global Change, Berlin, Springer Verlag.

Lecture notes of previous sessions and the readings for the upcoming lecture are available on a restricted access site.