Is It a Policy Formulation or “Threat Multiplier”?

Abstract

Climate change has been perceived as a security issue too crucial to be left solely in the hands of politicians. The chapter will examine the securitization of climate change in the UN Security Council during 2017-2018. By analyzing the framing of the issue by Council members and the resonance of these frames with the audience, the research determines which frames are accepted and which are disregarded, shedding light on the securitization process. The findings indicate that the Security Council has unanimously securitized climate change as a regional issue but not a global one. While some members have attempted to push for further securitization, even the limited securitization of climate change on a smaller scale is a novel development for the Council.