Climate Security

Climate change is widely recognised as one of the most pressing risks to global peace and security today. Yet, it remains at the periphery of policy action, particularly amid growing distrust in multilateral institutions. In Southeast Asia, climate change is already compounding existing peace and security challenges. The region is experiencing direct impacts from rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, sea-level rise, ocean warming, and more frequent and intense extreme weather events. These environmental changes intersect with complex and persistent challenges—such as resource scarcity, internal conflicts, and governance issues—posing significant risks to state stability and human security. Vulnerable populations and sectors are particularly exposed, with climate impacts acting as threat multipliers that could generate new and unforeseen security dynamics.

The NTS Centre conducts research on the linkages between climate change and peace and security in Southeast Asia. Its work considers the transboundary and spillover effects of climate risks, and their security implications for both states and at-risk communities. The Centre identifies climate impacts most likely to trigger security issues, such as competition over resources (including energy, water, and land), rising societal tensions, internal conflicts, and forced migration. Finally, the Centre explores pathways for enhanced regional cooperation to address the climate–peace-security nexus. Its research aims to foster a shared understanding across Southeast Asia of the interconnected risks and to support collaborative approaches that strengthen climate action and peacebuilding efforts in the face of a changing climate.

Climate Change Adaptation
Considering serious concerns brought about by the changing climate, policies in addressing climate change no longer look only at mitigation but increasingly have a strong focus on adaptation. While there has been a lot of debate on mitigation and disaster risk reduction at the global level, particularly for regions that are vulnerable to climate change, adaptation has become a more important consideration. The Centre examines climate adaptation efforts by:

- - Auditing climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction policies at national level across the region;
  - Comparing the frameworks for climate change cooperation across regions;
  - Examining regional cooperation mechanisms for climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts;
  - Analysing regional climate change cooperation on selected sectors including transportation, energy and cities; and
  - Examining north-south and south-south cooperation for climate mitigation and adaptation measures in the region.

In addition, the Centre also looks into other relevant aspects including the development of smart cities, urban resilience, and relevant environmental risks brought about by the 4th Industrial Revolution.