National Security Implications of Climate Change for Sri Lanka Naval Forces

Abstract

Climate change, both natural and man-induced, will cause the most serious environmental problems that will impact the national security of Sri Lanka in 21st Century. Climate change affects the national security of Sri Lanka in many ways. Firstly, damage to the maritime domain habitability by inundating low line coastal areas and increasing extreme weather conditions. Secondly, less and slow adaptation of people in facing climate change, may causing chance to perpetrate unlawful acts and generating cross-border climate change migration pressures. Lastly, there may be the impact of climate change resilience pressures in the Indian Ocean Rim which may also create climate refugee problems from regional counties, and place greater demands on marine foods and freshwaters as impacted populations may look into the sea to adapt the climate change impacts on the land. A balance of marine environment, social and national security issues, extensive human and infrastructure developments are required to develop as proactive policy measures in response to Sea Level Rise and climate change impacts near and around Sri Lanka. A joint approach linking government national security strategy and multiple agencies with community participation at the local level is an important element, which requires improving capabilities and livelihoods as means of equity and sustainability principles. The Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard should begin to consider potential specific force structure capabilities and training standards for conducting missions arising from, or affected by climate change, particularly in humanitarian assistance and disaster response and relief operations.