Baltic University Programme Teachers Conference „Sustainability – Security and Stability – in the Baltic Region” Marek Pietraś International Relations Department Faculty of Political Science, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University Securitization of climate change Kazimierz Dolny, Poland, 7-10 November 2012

I. Introductory remarks 1) Purpose Analysis of the process of inclusion of climate change in to the research area of international security, but not the focus on climate change as such. 2) The concept of securitization

Assumptions 1) Climate change are an element of redefining international security understanding under the condition of risk society. 2) At early stages of research climate change was identified with environmental dimention of international security. Nowdays it is becoming gradually an autonomous research area of international security characterised by specific features. 3) Climate change belongs to late-westphalian security issues. For them – beside political consensus – pivotal role plays scientific consensus (problem of scientific uncertainty).

Methodological assumptions Climate change – independently of their controversial character – are an independant variable and inclusion of climate change to the analysis of international security issue is an dependent variable.

II. Actors and evolution of climate change securitization 1. Two „waves” of climate change securitization a) end of 80-ties and the begining of 90-ties of the XX century - scholars - politicians b) end of I. and the begining of II. decade of XXI century - scholars - politicians 2) Sceptics on climate change seuritization

III. Structure of climate change securitization 1. Direct threats of climate change to the health and life of people – the concept of human security 2. Climate chang as multiplier of existing social – economic problems in some of the most volatile regions of the world. 3. Climate change as a factor of international conflicts. 4. Geographical differentiation of sensitivity and vulnerability to climate change.

IV. Consequences of climate change securitization for international security policy 1. Challenge for so far security concepts. 2. Increasing value of the precautionary principle and prevention approach.

V. Conclusions