ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY AND THE QUESTION OF DEVELOPMENT IN WEST QUESTION OF DEVELOPMENT IN WEST AFRICA AFRICA C. Nna-Emeka Okereke C. Nna-Emeka Okereke Ph.D Ph.D [email protected]& & [email protected]African Centre for Strategic Research African Centre for Strategic Research and Studies and Studies National Defence College National Defence College NIGERIA NIGERIA Mobile: +234-803-400-2833 Mobile: +234-803-400-2833
Transcript
ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY AND THE QUESTION OF AND THE QUESTION OF DEVELOPMENT IN WEST DEVELOPMENT IN WEST
• The year 2010 has recorded several The year 2010 has recorded several environmental disasters. Checklist of such environmental disasters. Checklist of such disasters include: disasters include:
• Earthquake in Haiti, Japan and ChinaEarthquake in Haiti, Japan and China• Flooding in Portugal, Pakistan and China, Flooding in Portugal, Pakistan and China, • The eruption of volcanic ash from The eruption of volcanic ash from
Eyjafjallajokull on 16 March 2010 which Eyjafjallajokull on 16 March 2010 which compelled the European Union states to compelled the European Union states to cancel flights operations in Europe for about cancel flights operations in Europe for about a week. This had tremendous impact of a week. This had tremendous impact of global trade and travels. global trade and travels.
Background cont’dBackground cont’d
• Other severe environmental disasters Other severe environmental disasters experienced on the wider global scale within experienced on the wider global scale within the first decade of the 21the first decade of the 21stst Century include: Century include:
• Tsunami tidal surge of December 2004 which Tsunami tidal surge of December 2004 which wrecked havoc to parts of Indonesia, India and wrecked havoc to parts of Indonesia, India and Sri LankaSri Lanka
• Hurricane Katrina of August 2005 which caused Hurricane Katrina of August 2005 which caused serious destruction in parts of Alabama, Florida serious destruction in parts of Alabama, Florida and Georgia in United Statesand Georgia in United States
• Earthquake in India (January 2001) Japan in Earthquake in India (January 2001) Japan in 20042004
Background cont’dBackground cont’d
• The continent of Africa is also not immune The continent of Africa is also not immune from the scourge of environmental disasters. from the scourge of environmental disasters. Countries like Uganda, Cameroon, Ethiopia Countries like Uganda, Cameroon, Ethiopia and Sudan have experienced varying and Sudan have experienced varying dimensions of environmental disasters such dimensions of environmental disasters such as earth quakes, volcanic eruption, as earth quakes, volcanic eruption, desertification and drought. desertification and drought.
• The impacts of these disasters have been The impacts of these disasters have been enormous in terms of loss of several lives and enormous in terms of loss of several lives and property. Consequently, issues of property. Consequently, issues of environmental security have emerged a environmental security have emerged a critical security concern at both national and critical security concern at both national and global theatres. global theatres.
Background cont’dBackground cont’d
• This sensitivity is as a result of the This sensitivity is as a result of the implications of environmental issues such as implications of environmental issues such as climate change and global warming on climate change and global warming on human security and pursuit of development. human security and pursuit of development.
• This is more so relevant in view of the This is more so relevant in view of the recurrent incidences of environmental recurrent incidences of environmental disasters such as flooding, earth disasters such as flooding, earth quake/tremor, drought, desertification, ocean quake/tremor, drought, desertification, ocean surge and volcanic eruptions among others.surge and volcanic eruptions among others.
Background cont’dBackground cont’d• As a response measure, some global initiatives at As a response measure, some global initiatives at
tackling the challenges posed by the environment tackling the challenges posed by the environment have been taken at various fora including the Earth have been taken at various fora including the Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro (1997), Durban Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro (1997), Durban Earth Summit (2000) and the Copenhagen Conference on Summit (2000) and the Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change held in 2009.Climate Change held in 2009.
• Issues of environmental security are also of relevance Issues of environmental security are also of relevance to West Africa. This is as a result of the myriads of to West Africa. This is as a result of the myriads of ecological hazards experienced in the sub-region. ecological hazards experienced in the sub-region.
• The fact that these hazards exert direct bearing on The fact that these hazards exert direct bearing on the pursuit of security and development in West the pursuit of security and development in West Africa and yet lack adequate policy response Africa and yet lack adequate policy response constitute the basic concern of this paper.constitute the basic concern of this paper.
CONTEXT OF THE PAPERCONTEXT OF THE PAPER
• SECURITYSECURITYIn its simplest meaning, security implies In its simplest meaning, security implies freedom or absence of threat, fear or danger. freedom or absence of threat, fear or danger. It is an essential condition necessary for It is an essential condition necessary for human fulfillment.human fulfillment.
• DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENTDevelopment implies general improvement in Development implies general improvement in human condition. It is an attack on the chief human condition. It is an attack on the chief evils that confront the humanity. evils that confront the humanity.
Context cont’dContext cont’d
• The notion of security has however evolved The notion of security has however evolved from over emphasis on the physical security from over emphasis on the physical security of the state to the focus on human security of the state to the focus on human security which buttress freedom from both violent and which buttress freedom from both violent and non violent threats or danger such as diseases non violent threats or danger such as diseases and environmental degradation and disasters.and environmental degradation and disasters.
• A couple of reasons have been adduced for A couple of reasons have been adduced for the redefinition of the focus of security. the redefinition of the focus of security. FirstFirst, , the end of the Cold War stimulated a re-focus the end of the Cold War stimulated a re-focus of attention from physical to human security of attention from physical to human security concerns. concerns.
Context cont’dContext cont’d
• Secondly, it has become obvious that insecurities Secondly, it has become obvious that insecurities arising from diseases, ecological degradation and arising from diseases, ecological degradation and natural disasters wreck severe devastation on human natural disasters wreck severe devastation on human development. development.
• This realization has stimulated commitments to This realization has stimulated commitments to addressing the scourge of HIV/AIDS, Cerebro-Spinal addressing the scourge of HIV/AIDS, Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis (CSM), tuberculosis, Avian Flu, Cholera Meningitis (CSM), tuberculosis, Avian Flu, Cholera and several other pandemic diseases which have and several other pandemic diseases which have adversely affected human security and development.adversely affected human security and development.
• It is within this purview that the implications of It is within this purview that the implications of environmental security to the question of environmental security to the question of development become significant.development become significant.
FUNDAMENTAL ASSUMPTIONSFUNDAMENTAL ASSUMPTIONS
• The basic assumption here is that The basic assumption here is that environmental security refers to the safety of environmental security refers to the safety of our environment from natural disasters and our environment from natural disasters and human activities that jeopardize the quality of human activities that jeopardize the quality of life, it then follows that environmental life, it then follows that environmental security constitute an important dimension to security constitute an important dimension to the pursuit of peace and development. the pursuit of peace and development.
• By implication, securing the integrity of our By implication, securing the integrity of our environment is fundamental to the pursuit of environment is fundamental to the pursuit of security and development at individual, security and development at individual, national and sub-regional level in West Africa.national and sub-regional level in West Africa.
OVERVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY OVERVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY IN WEST AFRICAIN WEST AFRICA
• In West Africa, the scourge of environmental In West Africa, the scourge of environmental hazards constitute a major threat to human hazards constitute a major threat to human security and development. security and development.
• This is demonstrated by the continued havocs This is demonstrated by the continued havocs arising from environmental degradation and arising from environmental degradation and accompanying ecological disasters across the accompanying ecological disasters across the sub-region.sub-region.
• Prominent of these are the series of flooding Prominent of these are the series of flooding as experienced in the Republic of Niger, as experienced in the Republic of Niger, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and most recently in Burkina Faso, Nigeria and most recently in Ghana (September 2010). Ghana (September 2010).
Nature of Environmental Nature of Environmental Hazards cont’dHazards cont’d
i. Dumping of hazardous wastes as i. Dumping of hazardous wastes as experienced in Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire- experienced in Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire- Probo Koala Probo Koala (Transfigura); Koko Nigeria(Transfigura); Koko Nigeria
ii. The scourge of desertification which exert ii. The scourge of desertification which exert pressure on the local population along the pressure on the local population along the frontline and buffer regions in Niger, frontline and buffer regions in Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana etcNigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana etc
iii. Intermittent ocean surge along the iii. Intermittent ocean surge along the Atlantic coast especially LagosAtlantic coast especially Lagos
iv. Oil Spillage and Gas flaring in the Niger iv. Oil Spillage and Gas flaring in the Niger DeltaDelta
THREATSTHREATS
• The vulnerability of the sub-region has also The vulnerability of the sub-region has also facilitated transnational organised crimes and facilitated transnational organised crimes and financing of terrorism. Consequently, the region financing of terrorism. Consequently, the region has become increasingly attractive for drug has become increasingly attractive for drug traffickers from South America and Asia, and traffickers from South America and Asia, and illicit trade in diamond and SALWs.illicit trade in diamond and SALWs.
1. Drug Trafficking1. Drug Trafficking - FARC- FARC
Threats cont’dThreats cont’d• Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb
(AQIM)(AQIM)1. Pushed down from Algeria towards West Africa’s 1. Pushed down from Algeria towards West Africa’s poorly patrolled border frontiers.poorly patrolled border frontiers.
2. Underground economy including smuggling, 2. Underground economy including smuggling, protection protection racketsrackets
3. Engage in kidnapping of tourists in Mali and 3. Engage in kidnapping of tourists in Mali and NigerNiger
4. Direct combat with armed forces of Mali, Niger & 4. Direct combat with armed forces of Mali, Niger & ChadChad
CAUSESCAUSES
i.i. Poor orientation and commitment to Poor orientation and commitment to Environmental Governance at Environmental Governance at individual and institutional levelsindividual and institutional levels
ii.ii. Negative Socio-cultural practices Negative Socio-cultural practices such as bush burningsuch as bush burning
iii.iii. Environmental Degradation arising Environmental Degradation arising from unethical activities of from unethical activities of Multinational Oil Corporations; Multinational Oil Corporations; NIGER DELTANIGER DELTA
Causes cont’dCauses cont’d
iv. Epidemic of armed conflicts; Liberia, iv. Epidemic of armed conflicts; Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cote d’Ivoire, Niger Sierra Leone, Cote d’Ivoire, Niger DeltaDelta
v. Natural Disasters arising partly from v. Natural Disasters arising partly from Climate Change and Global warming; Climate Change and Global warming;
vi. Vulnerable and under-governed vi. Vulnerable and under-governed borders; Land and Sea borders; Land and Sea
vii. Others emanate from the activities vii. Others emanate from the activities of man; construction, industry, miningof man; construction, industry, mining
IMPACTSIMPACTS
i. Loss of Lives and Propertyi. Loss of Lives and Property
ii. Destruction of Critical Infrastructuresii. Destruction of Critical Infrastructures
-Dams, Bridges, Hospitals in Burkina -Dams, Bridges, Hospitals in Burkina FasoFaso
iii. Spread of Diseases like cholera, CSM iii. Spread of Diseases like cholera, CSM and Respiratory track infectionsand Respiratory track infections
iv. Results in violent conflicts at national iv. Results in violent conflicts at national levels levels
v. Loss of livestock, crops and arable landv. Loss of livestock, crops and arable land
Impacts cont’dImpacts cont’d
vi. Destruction of natural habitat, gully erosion vi. Destruction of natural habitat, gully erosion (Angulu Nanka- Nigeria)(Angulu Nanka- Nigeria)
vii. Internal Displacement of people; vii. Internal Displacement of people; - Niger flood, July 2007 - 50,000 displaced- Niger flood, July 2007 - 50,000 displaced- Burkina Flood, September 2009 - 150,000 - Burkina Flood, September 2009 - 150,000
displaceddisplacedviii. Refugee Movements leading to international viii. Refugee Movements leading to international
hostilitieshostilitiesix. Legitimacy crisis for the governmentix. Legitimacy crisis for the governmentx. Loss of revenue at micro and macro levelsx. Loss of revenue at micro and macro levelsxi. Threats of terrorism and TOCsxi. Threats of terrorism and TOCs
What Should be DoneWhat Should be Done
• Public Enlightenment on Environmental Public Enlightenment on Environmental Protection Protection
• Enactment of relevant legislative Enactment of relevant legislative instruments at various national levelsinstruments at various national levels
• Institution Building; establishment and Institution Building; establishment and strengthening relevant public institutions strengthening relevant public institutions responsible for environmental protectionresponsible for environmental protection
• Capacity Building for judicial and law Capacity Building for judicial and law enforcement officials engaged in enforcement officials engaged in environmental protection including sanctionsenvironmental protection including sanctions
What should be done cont’dWhat should be done cont’d
• Strengthening Civil Society Organizations Strengthening Civil Society Organizations engaged in Environmental Protectionengaged in Environmental Protection
• International Cooperation to combat International Cooperation to combat desertification, drought, Climate Change and desertification, drought, Climate Change and Global WarmingGlobal Warming
• ECOWAS should evolve requisite Protocols on ECOWAS should evolve requisite Protocols on Environmental Protection with corresponding Environmental Protection with corresponding sanction regimes especially for erring sanction regimes especially for erring governments and corporationsgovernments and corporations
• ECOWAS Early Warning Mechanism should ECOWAS Early Warning Mechanism should enhance investments on environmental enhance investments on environmental sensitivitysensitivity
