Book Details

Issues of climate change, dwindling resources, natural disaster, and disease that comprise environmental security are at the forefront of global politics and the media today. Environmental Security: A Guide to the IssueS≪/i> is a primer for anyone attuned to these threats. This well-reasoned, thought-provoking volume establishes and updates the connection between global environmental problems and international security, describing existing theories of environmental security and illustrating them with evidence from present-day global ecological realities.

Specifically, the book shows readers how both shortages and abundance of natural resources such as fresh water, oil and natural gas, and diamonds and timber can contribute to conflict and insecurity. It also discusses how agriculture and fisheries issues affect food security with international ramifications, how global ecosystem shifts like climate change are affecting both the earth and the movement of people on it, and how war and preparation for war can affect the natural environment. Finally, the book explores how nations can, and must, cooperate with each other to confront and manage these threats.

Elizabeth L. Chalecki, PhD, is visiting professor in the international studies program at Boston College, Boston, MA. Her expertise lies in the areas of climate change and security, environmental terrorism, and nontraditional security threat analysis. Before teaching at BC, she was the environment and security analyst at the Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security. Chalecki has published over 20 articles and book chapters on diverse topics such as climate change and Arctic security, environmental terrorism, climate change and international law, public perceptions of environmental issues, and water in outer space. She has taught at Boston University; California State University, Hayward; and the Monterey Institute of International Studies and worked for Environment Canada, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the Brookings Institution. She received her degree in international relations from the Fletcher Sc