Description
This study examines the politics of knowledge production in climate security discourse, focusing on how narratives originating from the Global North shape global perceptions and policies related to climate change. Through a comprehensive study of a bibliometric analysis of academic literature, think tank reports, state policies, and United Nations documents, we trace the evolution of climate change securitization from the early 1990s to 2023. Central to our investigation is the question of who produces knowledge about climate security and how this knowledge shapes global perceptions and policies. The research identifies three key 'speech acts' that have been instrumental in framing climate change as a security issue: contributions from academia as well as think tanks, state-level policy formulations, and United Nations initiatives. The research aims to contribute to this critical examination, advocating for more inclusive knowledge production and policy-making processes that incorporate diverse perspectives, particularly from the Global South.
Our findings reveal a significant imbalance in global knowledge production, with institutions and organizations from the Global North dominating the discourse and influencing policy decisions. We argue that this North-centric positioning of climate change as a security threat has profound implications for how the issue is perceived and addressed in the Global South. While it elevates the urgency of climate action, it also risks perpetuating existing power imbalances, potentially undermining more holistic, equitable, and sustainable approaches to addressing climate change. It calls for a critical examination of existing power structures and colonial legacies in climate change strategies, advocating for an approach that balances security concerns with issues of justice, equity, and sustainable development.
