International Symposium on Climate Security in Asia-Pacific

As the climate crisis worsens, the nexus between security considerations and climate is attracting both policy and academic attention. Despite its socio-political importance, the significance of considering climate change from a security and diplomatic perspective has yet to be fully explored in the policy arena and on-the-ground actions. The interwoven nature of this nexus demands that policymakers be equipped with informed decision-making approaches to shape efficient policies.

Against this background, the Asia-Pacific Climate Security (APCS) project, a new initiative of the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, aims to provide guidance for policy and diverse sector developments in Japan and the Asia-Pacific region. For that, we can and should utilise multiple security approaches in responding to climate change-induced uncertainties. This research project deals with some key thematic areas that interconnect with climate security, such as energy security, food security, climate-induced mobilities, climate change adaptation and maritime security. Such an integrated approach is crucial because climate change is an extremely cross-disciplinary issue, and it is essential to be aware of the linkages among the various fields in order to develop efficient responses.

IGES is organising an international symposium on climate security in Asia-Pacific to mark the launch of this initiative. Through interactive discussions with experts from Japan and abroad, it aims to strengthen the understanding of the necessary interventions needed in this dynamic policy area and to design research directions on how to respond to these challenges. In addition, this symposium will facilitate discussions on the current issues within each of the key themes mentioned above and unravel the complex dynamics among them. For that, following the plenary session, which introduces the issue, three thematic sessions are planned to facilitate discussions on the overarching issues: resource diplomacy, climate security and geopolitics; migration, food and human security, and risks mitigation; ocean policy and maritime governance. Through these discussions, we aim to gain insight into the relationship between climate change and security and possible policy responses.