The Environment and Security in Pacific Asia

This paper examines an important debate over the impact of environmental issues on security in Pacific Asia, and asks whether pollution, population growth and scarcity of renewable resources, such as fish and forests, can cause conflict. Environmentalists believe that these issues can drive conflict; traditionalists remain sceptical. The main conclusion of this paper is that, while environmentalists clearly exaggerate their case, environmental degradation is set to become a significant underlying cause of conflict in Pacific Asia in years to come.