Environment and Security Ellý Katrín Guðmundsdóttir March 19, 2010

environment and security o environmental threats o national security and the environment o risk assessment for Iceland o the actors working for the environment

environmental threats o environmental threats mean changes in the environment which can harm or even danger human health, impact the business environment, threaten the existence of species or alter the ecological balance o environmental threats can be generated by human activity or natural phenomena

environmental threats & national security o environmental threats may remain local but may involve regions or the entire earth o when negative impacts from the environment are felt across borders they become security issues for the affected nations o security analysis now addresses environmental threats

risk assessment for Iceland o the mandate of the risk assessment commission o climate change and civil protection and emergency management system o climate change and security

mandate of the risk assessment commission o the commission approached its task on the basis of a broad and inclusive definition of security, encompassing “new threats” posed by global, transnational, societal and human factors

civil protection & emergency management o emergency plans for how to deal with natural disasters or environmental accidents have been been prepared and are part of the Civil Protection and Emergency Management System in Iceland o how will climate change affect the risk factors defined in this system?

climate change & security issues in Iceland o receding glaciers will cause major runoff threatening road security o thinning of large glaciers will reduce the load on the Earth's crust which will rebound causing increasing volcanic eruptions but reduce the impacts of rising global sea levels o receding ice on the North pole may open up new shipping routes in the future increasing the risk of sea accidents and oil spills

working for the environment o international community o states o local authorities o individuals o NGOs and businesses o cooperation is essential

o Risk Assessment for Iceland: _ahattumat_fyrir_Island_a.pdf