The Climate - Security Nexus: Reconceptualizing Environmental Policy as National Security

Vaibhav Pramod Karajgikar

Climate Change, National Security, Non-Traditional Security Threats, Securitization Theory, Copenhagen School

Abstract: This essay explores the conceptual divide between climate change policy and traditional national security, distinguishing between how the two currently interact and how they ought to be aligned. It argues that dominant, state-centric and militarized notions of national security are ill-suited to address climate change, a non-traditional security threat that transcends borders and undermines long-term security. While environmental security emphasizes cooperation, interdependence, and ecological sustainability, national security practices often marginalize environmental concerns and legitimize exceptional measures that exacerbate climate risks over time. Rather than advocating for the securitization of climate change within existing frameworks, the essay contends that national security itself must be redefined to incorporate human and environmental security as core referent objects. Drawing on securitization theory, it demonstrates how expanding the meaning of ‘security’ can enable cooperative, preventive, and long-term policy responses. The argument is illustrated through a case study of Australia, highlighting how narrow security thinking has constrained effective climate action.

Published Paper   E-Certificate

"The Climate - Security Nexus: Reconceptualizing Environmental Policy as National Security", IJSDR - International Journal of Scientific Development and Research (www.IJSDR.org), ISSN:2455-2631, Vol.11, Issue 1, page no.a921-a926, January-2026, Available :https://ijsdr.org/papers/IJSDR2601099.pdf

Volume 11 Issue 1, January-2026

Pages : a921-a926

Paper Reg. ID: IJSDR_306909

Published Paper Id: IJSDR2601099

Downloads: 000261

Research Area: Social Science All

Country: Pune, Maharashtra, India

Published Paper PDF: https://ijsdr.org/papers/IJSDR2601099

Published Paper URL: https://ijsdr.org/viewpaperforall?paper=IJSDR2601099

ISSN: 2455-2631 | IMPACT FACTOR: 9.15 Calculated By Google Scholar | ESTD YEAR: 2016

An International Scholarly Open Access Journal, Peer-Reviewed, Refereed Journal Impact Factor 9.15 Calculate by Google Scholar and Semantic Scholar | AI-Powered Research Tool, Multidisciplinary, Monthly, Multilanguage Journal Indexing in All Major Database & Metadata, Citation Generator

Publisher: IJSDR(IJ Publication) Janvi Wave

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License and The Open Definition