Non-traditional security, Energy and Environment for development: South-East Asia

Shahab Sabahi

Energy and Environment for Development – Policy Analysis Research Group

The security threat posed by a deteriorating environment and global climate change can no longer be considered as marginal to the traditional security discourse. Since the end of the Cold War, the security literature observes that rather than wars, states have become increasingly vulnerable to the risks of non-traditional security threats such as energy security, cross-border conflicts, pandemics and cyber security. Perhaps it is time to add environmental security to the list.

Environmental Security refers; on an article titled “Environmental Security: Concept and Measurement, written by Allenby Braden; to the intersection of environmental and national security considerations at a national policy level. He as one of security theorists believes that states and regional inter-state organisations should recognise and formally introduce environmental security as a factor in their security and economic policy frameworks. (We’ve observed in our Foreign Policy design in our research work)

Such a framework would consider, the impact of economic development on the interaction between the ecosystem and human security within and across borders. It would also be capable of analysing the interaction between energy security and environmental security and develop strategies that would promote sustainable development.

South East Asia has abundant renewable energy sources, notably geothermal energy, solar power, bio-fuel and hydropower. The region’s hydropower resources are particularly of the Mekong River Basin and its commission committee, comprising Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, was formed in 1995 to jointly manage the sustainable development of the Mekong River Basin Indeed, there have been numerous hydropower dam projects built and planned over the last decade. (Singapore International Energy Week 2011)

South East Asia is home to approximately 600 million people, out of which 19 percent live on less than US$1.25 a day (the Millennium Development Goals Report 2011) Inevitably absolute poverty has been remarkably reduced to half compare to the Ninetieths , for further poverty reduction, the economies of the region’s states must keep their expansion up. It is translated a steeply rising demand for energy. 

The pursuit for regional energy security and economic development does not have to be a zero sum game in relation to the environment. In fact, sustainable development can be achieved if environmental considerations are built into the core of each nation's socio-economic policies and security strategies.

In conclusion, the south east region’s energy needs will continue to increase as the region's economy expands further in the years ahead. It remains uncertain whether economic growth can be achieved without further jeopardising human security, the environment and the global climate even if the region continues to increase its use of renewable energy. Unless environmental security is factored into the region’s national security and economic paradigm, the region will continue to face an energy security-sustainable development conundrum.