Impact of Climate Change on Maritime Security

Abstract

Climate change has become a major threat to the security of the world’s seas and oceans affecting structures, politics, and people. This paper aims at discussing the connection between climate change and maritime security with emphasis on effects and threats. Climate change impacts, including increased sea level, more frequent and intense storms, and changes in marine environment pose direct threats to key maritime facilities including ports, harbors, and offshore structures affecting international commerce and economic activities. The thawing of the polar ice caps is making new sea ways in the Arctic region, increasing the political rivalry among the key players such as Russia, the United States, Canada, and China and raising the stakes over the access to resources and control of the strategic waterways. Furthermore, shifts in the marine environment are increasing tensions over territorial claims in areas such as the South China Sea where competition for scarce resources is expected to rise. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are vulnerable to climate change impacts including flooding, loss of land, and threats to freshwater sources, and therefore need specific measures to address these effects. The study therefore calls for a coordinated and comprehensive approach to the improvement of the resilience of the maritime structures, the naval and coast guard forces, and the international cooperation. The implications of the findings are that there is need for new approaches and preventive measures to protect the seas and oceans for sustainable management and security in light of the emerging climate change issues.