Security risks from climate change and environmental degradation

implications for sustainable land use transformation in the Global South

authored by

Trung Thanh Nguyen, Ulrike Grote, Frank Neubacher, Dil B. Rahut, Manh Hung Do, Gokul P. Paudel

Abstract

Climate change and environmental degradation remain the most complex challenges that present and future generations of humankind face and raise several security risks that have received relatively little attention in the literature. This paper aims to review the evidence of security risks arising from these challenges in the Global South and to provide forward-looking perspectives on how to increase the resilience of affected individuals and communities. We see diverse land use strategies as a key element to drive a transformation towards greater sustainability and resilience. We propose that rural land use in the Global South should be geared towards the promotion of resource and biodiversity conservation, the development of agroforestry, tree-based farming systems, the diversification of crops, and the utilization of climate-resilient cultivars, and neglected and under-utilized plants. These actions would contribute to addressing the security risks stemming from the interconnected challenges of climate change and environmental degradation.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Environmental Economics and World Trade

External Organisation(s)

University of Cologne
Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI)
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)

Type

Review article

Journal

Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability

Volume

63

ISSN

1877-3435

Publication date

08.2023

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Environmental Science, General Social Sciences

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 13 - Climate Action, SDG 15 - Life on Land

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2023.101322 (Access: Open)