Approaching environmental security:From Stability to Sustainability

摘要

Environmental security implies a freedom from environmental threats that can contribute to instability and the outbreak of conflict. The complex and long-term nature of such threats often makes them difficult to identify and act upon; however, it is widely recognized that such threats need to be addressed in the next U.S. National Security Strategy. Countries that are less environmentally sustainable are more prone to instability. Early identification of instability is necessary in structuring successful interventions, and a simple framework and set of indicators are presented as a means to better identify and communicate this instability. Defense environmental cooperation can be an effective tool to promote sustainability overseas. The U.S. Army has demonstrated its leadership in sustainability, and can leverage its experience to help implement related defense cooperation activities in support of the new Africa Command.