ENVSEC Quotes

ENVSEC Quotes

“NATO, as a modern security organization, has a stake in environmental security. NATO addresses security from two angles: civilian and military. While putting emphasis on non-military factors, such as the economic or environmental dimensions, the Alliance has also developed an “acquis” of military guidelines, standards and best practice on environmental security. Environmental protection in military operations is a new discipline, which still needs to mature. The expertise within ENVSEC would be a valuable asset in its development.”
*Jamie Shea* , Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges NATO

“The importance of regional co-operation was also emphasized in the context of the role that sustainability played in the promotion of peace and security. The Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC) was highlighted as an important example of inter-agency co-operation and partnership between OSCE, UNEP, UNDP, the Regional Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and ECE. The innovative structure of ENVSEC could serve as a model for other regions.”
*Report of the UNECE Regional Preparatory Meeting for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development*

"Since 2003, ENVSEC and its partner organizations have catalyzed tools for improved transboundary cooperation, and helped to establish transboudary institutions, for example in the Ferghana Valley. In 2005, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan requested ENVSEC to facilitate an environmental risk assessment in the valley, involving information-sharing, a joint field assessment and a regional stakeholder consultation workshop. The assessment was a breakthrough, linking together environmental authorities and stakeholders who previously did not cooperate. Although unresolved questions relating to border demarcation and water resources remained, it allowed the parties to agree on a workplan to combat the most critical issues."
*Report on Sustainable management of water and water-related ecosystems*

“As early as 1994, research identified the Amu Darya delta as an environment and security hotspot and these concerns are increasing rather than receding”. “From a security perspective climate change, water, energy and agriculture constitute the main areas of interest for this report (Environment and Security in Amu Darya basin) as they reveal the potential for increasing instability and even confrontation as more flows are impounded upstream reducing those water availability and quality downstream,” he added. “Trust building, re-thinking agricultural production including irrigation systems and fostering cooperation on shared resources and infrastructure will be key to sustainable development in this part of Central Asia. The (UNEP and ENVSEC) report sets out clear recommendations on how this can be achieved in a partnership between the countries concerned and the international community.”
*Achim Steiner* , UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director

“ENVSEC project activities address relevant environmental issues in the target countries, also from the point of view of environment and security interlinkages, and that the ENVSEC projects are contributing to the reduction of environment and security risks. ENVSEC projects are making progress, help to build confidence and generate regional cooperation in Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia, and have generally gained the support of key authorities. It notes that the ENVSEC Initiative itself as often not known to local and national stakeholders of the projects.”
*Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland*

“Making joint decisions on the best course of action to deal with transboundary environmental issues can be a powerful tool” for easing tensions and strengthening security
*Christophe Bouvier* , ENVSEC Chair 2010 and Regional Director for Europe UNEP United Nations Environment Programme

“The spectrum of ENVSEC activities is wide and diverse, but they all serve one objective, which is to transform risks into co-operation.\"
*Goran Svilanović* , ENVSEC 2012 Chair OSCE Co-ordinator for Economic and Environmental Activities

“NATO, as an associated member, contributes to the ENVSEC both in capacity building and awareness raising, using its standard mechanisms for cooperative grants under the Science for Peace and Security programme. NATO works hand in hand with the partnership on environmental activities with a clear objective in mind: enhancing the security in vulnerable regions and bringing its scientific and technical expertise to the partnership. South Eastern Europe, the Southern Caucasus, Eastern Europe and Central Asia are the four regions where ENVSEC is developing programmes to reduce tensions and avoid conflicts. While conducting assessments, the partners constantly have in mind that the destruction and over-exploitation of natural resources and ecosystems can indeed threaten the security of communities and nations. This international partnership is key to supporting countries in their efforts to manage environmental risks through international dialogue and neighbourly cooperation.”
*Achim Steiner* , UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director

“Within 10 to 20 years, we are going to see important impacts in many areas, which will have an effect on security. For instance, changes in rainfall with increasing droughts will impact agricultural production. Growing ocean acidification will have consequences for plant life, fauna and fish stocks. These changes could, in turn, lead to human migratory flows, which are already severe in some parts of the world. Security problems and disputes could occur over the sharing of arable land and water resources, such as important rivers. To address environmental issues threatening security in vulnerable regions, NATO joined five other international agencies in 2004 to form the Environmental and Security (ENVSEC) Initiative. As a result, NATO is able to factor in, in terms of its policy planning and strategic assessments, the best science on climate change and start to model scenarios the military may have to deal with,” explains Shea.
*Jamie Shea* , Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges, NATO