Contrasting the US’ and the EU’s Approach to Climate Security

This paper examines the trend in the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) to frame climate change as a future security threat or ‘threat multiplier’. Using the Copenhagen School’s work on the securitisation of environmental problems as theoretical background, I contrast the American and European approach to climate security to clarify how the EU seeks to tackle the security implications of climate change. The focus is on the similarities and differences between American and European assessments of the urgency of climate change, its main security implications and possible security responses. The paper concludes that a securitisation of climate change has not yet happened in either the US or EU. This may be due to the lack of understanding among policy-makers of the causal links between the future impacts of climate change, political and social stability and violent conflicts.