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Environment and Security
Ellý Katrín Guðmundsdóttir
March 19, 2010
environment and security
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environmental threats
national security and the environment
risk assessment for Iceland
the actors working for the environment
environmental threats
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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
environmental threats can be generated by human activity
or natural phenomena
environmental threats & national security
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environmental threats may remain local but may involve
regions or the entire earth
when negative impacts from the environment are felt
across borders they become security issues for the
affected nations
security analysis now addresses environmental threats
risk assessment for Iceland
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the mandate of the risk assessment commission
climate change and civil protection and emergency
management system
climate change and security
mandate of the risk assessment commission
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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
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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
how will climate change affect the risk factors defined in
this system?
climate change & security issues in Iceland
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receding glaciers will cause major runoff threatening road
security
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
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
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international community
states
local authorities
individuals
NGOs and businesses
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cooperation is essential
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Risk Assessment for Iceland:
http://www.utanrikisraduneyti.is/media/Skyrslur/Skyrsla_um
_ahattumat_fyrir_Island_a.pdf
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