Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
We therefore offer the following reformulated definition:
National security involves a set of conditions that enables a state to safeguard
the physical and mental wellbeing and livelihoods of its citizens, and the
integrity of its territory, including life support systems and ecosystems, from
both direct and indirect threats and risks.
Unlike the 2009 Australian Defence White Paper and 2012 National Security
Strategy, our definition does not assume that all threats and risks are neces-
acknowledge Australia's complicity in the production of the risks associated with
climate change that now threaten homeland security. Yet the formulation is still
broad enough to encompass traditional security threats, such as armed attack and
WMD proliferation, as well as more recent threats, such as terrorism. Putting the
safety and wellbeing of Australian citizens, and the ecosystems upon which they
depend, front and centre in a national security strategy should be the first duty of
any state. Given the ample scientific evidence to indicate that, without urgent
mitigation, climate change is very likely to compromise this safety and wellbeing
catastrophically, then it follows that an aggressive emissions mitigation policy
must be seen as a central component of Australia's national security response.
The risks of 'weather of mass destruction' should be taken no less seriously than
those posed by 'weapons of mass destruction'.
Second, focusing on the conditions that enable a state to safeguard the
wellbeing of its citizens means that Australia must integrate and harmonize its
domestic and foreign policy. Like Australia's now-abandoned 'Forward Defence
Policy', one can consider national security, more broadly defined, to depend on
regional stability across social, economic and ecological dimensions.
Third, such a formulation is also compatible with the human security
framework endorsed by the United Nations, which includes both freedom from
fear, freedom from want, and freedom to live in dignity (UNGA, 2010: 2). That
is, if the broad formulation of national security suggested here is pursued with full
sensitivity to the complex interdependencies between nation-states and commu-
nities in a globalized world, and with full acceptance of Australia's international
obligations as a developed nation to take the lead in mitigating climate change,
then Australia's national security strategy would also be compatible with human
security in the broader region and beyond.
There would be strong public support for broadening Australia's national
security framework to encompass human security. A recent study by Juliet
Pietsch and Ian McAllister found 'that, in line with the United Nations' new
security paradigm, the Australian public sees four clear aspects to its security -
health, the environment, the economy and defence. Moreover, lifestyle issues
concerning health and environmental security are more significant concerns
than the traditional ones of defence and the economy. The human security
paradigm is clearly understood by the public and has real and significant political
and electoral consequences' (2010: 240).
