Climate, the Environment and National Security

This course is available for on-campus & remote (online) learning. All students participate in interactive, real-time classes. Climate change is one of the most defining - and contested - issues of the 21st century. While catastrophic weather events such as fires, cyclones, and droughts increasingly tax state capacity, the political, economic and social consequences pose potentially grave risks for state stability and global order. This course examines climate change and environmental security from a national security lens, examining the potential for conflict, confrontation and cooperation. Students will closely examine the securitisation and politicisation of climate change issues, the flow on effects for national security, and policy options for adaptation. Scholars and policy practitioners from NSC, the Crawford School and the wider policy community will provide deep insights into the science, economics and policy of climate change and environmental security. Throughout, this course examines the challenges faced by scientists, security scholars, and practitioners to influence policy in the post-truth age.