Environmental Security

Teacher(s)

Cabrita Teresa;

Language

English

Main themes

The course will detail important environmental security issues including the military implications of environmental degradation, the security implications of environmental solutions (such as geoingeneering) or the greening of security practices.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

By the end of this course, students will be able to:  Explain the different facets of environmental security, including the security implications of environmental challenges and the environmental implications of security issues, and Discuss the interaction of environmental problems with broader challenges including inter-generational, economic, military and ethics challenges.

Content

This course provides students with an introductory yet broad overview of environmental security as a field of EU governance, drawing on multidisciplinary approaches and debates. It invites students to critically reflect on the diverse and contested nature of environmental security and on the dual dynamic of securitisation of environmental policy, on the one hand, and of greening of security policies, on the other hand. Building on the outcome of these reflections, the course combines an examination of the internal dimension of EU environmental security governance—notably EU civil protection competence and disaster management policy—with an exploration of the external dimension of the Union’s strategy in this respect—that is, the extent to which environmental security is an integral part of the EU’s foreign policy strategy and objectives. The remainder of the course focuses on concrete manifestations of how EU law and policy deal with the consequences of ecological disruption, with special attention to topics such as EU energy and water policy, the Arctic, intergenerational climate mobilisation, and climate refugees. 

Teaching methods

The course combines theoretical lectures with practical insights and guest lectures with leading experts in the field. Students are expected to complete practical exercises throughout the course and to engage critically with the readings.

Evaluation methods

For this course, 30% of the grade will be based on a graded practical exercise performed in class. The grade of this practical exercise carries to the August session (resit). The remaining 70% of the grade will be based on a written essay and oral exam. 

Other information

The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) systems is not encouraged in this course. However, if AI systems are used during assessments, students are required to submit a print-screen or transcription of the exchange had with the chosen AI system(s), together with a paragraph explaining the reasons for resorting to AI and the advantages and disadvantages found in the use of this method. AI systems must not, in any case, be used to generate substantive content used in graded assignments. 

Teaching materials

• Environmental Security Approaches, Issues and Actors

Faculty or entity

> IEEB