Description
Maritime security is one of the most vulnerable domains of security in the context of climate change especially for countries with long coastal boundaries. The Quad namely, India, Japan, Australia, and the US, share varied concerns of impending climate change-induced maritime security challenges. Climate change can derail the collective goals for which the Quad was established, - securing a free, open, prosperous, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. As a threat-multiplier to existing maritime security challenges, climate change can catalyse intensified competition for resources and control over sea lanes, and increase maritime violence and conflict. Recognising this is critical for the Quad to secure their collective strategic and economic interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
The proposed paper is designed to analyse the maritime security dilemmas that emerge for the Quad and the policy choices to deal with them. To that end, the paper asks what new maritime security challenges does climate change pose for the Quad in the Indo-Pacific region and how do the existing maritime security mechanisms of the Quad stand to address these new challenges. The paper further probes for areas of cooperation the Quad can forge to secure their shared maritime security interests and explores what challenges may stand in the way to achieving these goals. The paper is based on an ongoing project and will use two main research tools - systematic literature review and analysis, and interviews of experts/policymakers across the region.
Keywords: Climate Change, Maritime Security, Quad, Environmental Security
