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Following the recent economic crisis, concerns over the revival of trade protectionism have surfaced, with some countries imposing or threatening to impose highly trade-distorting legislation to help their domestic industries compete in world markets, raising the spectre of a potential trade war. This paper looks at the attempts by some of the developed countries to introduce trade measures using the issue of climate change as a Trojan horse, to ensure that they do not lose out to the emerging economies. It also looks at the proposed legislations, and whether they are in conflict with international trade laws. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Himalayan region is renowned as a powerhouse of Asia. Despite its abundant natural resources, youthful population, and strategic location between two rapidly developing Asian economies, the social and economic conditions in the Himalayan region, particularly in Nepal and Bhutan, have remained consistently underdeveloped. Various factors contribute to this, including climate change-induced disasters, political instability, strained bilateral relations between lower and upper riparian countries, and inadequate resource management. This article aims to address the existing research gap by exploring the energy potential of the Himalayan region and its viability for sustainable economic growth in the face of increasing global temperatures and climate-induced energy crises. The article asserts that, unless the region diversifies its energy sources to include other renewables, the Himalayan region (comprising Nepal, Bhutan, and the Indian Himalayan States-IHS) may not be able to serve as a stable hydro energy supplier to the South Asian region. This is due to inherent challenges and the strategic competition between India and China, both regionally and globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of national security has often been taken to merely connote the preservation of sovereignty, territorial integrity and internal stability with the focus on the coercive power of the state. In today’s complex and interdependent world faced with many non traditional threats like pandemics, climate change, etc it must, however, be seen in a more holistic manner. Such an all encompassing view of national security demands that the determinant of security is not just the coercive elements of state power but its comprehensive national power with the latter being a composite of many factors across all facets of national life. These factors, inclusive of leadership, if quantified, can help develop a national security index which in comparative terms could serve as an indicator of the relative security of a country vis a vis its peers. The holistic nature of national security demands that appropriate structures are in place to manage it. India is fortunate to have such structures which, of course, need revitalisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A global temperature rise is being experienced earliest and most intensely in the Arctic region. The changes are worrying but the commercial interests are equally enticing. The Arctic is witnessing the convergence of the geophysical, the geo-economic and the geostrategic in strange and dramatic ways, making it a paradox and an antithesis. For India, the Arctic is distant when it comes to economic interests and near when it comes to climate change. As India today reassesses and rethinks its role in the new global geopolitical space, the Arctic becomes an important part of that reorientation and a movement towards a ‘global knowledge commons’. The Arctic is now an important geographical categorisation in India’s global policies. It must also be stressed that recent Arctic ascendancy in the policy domain stems directly from the strengthening of India’s climate change-linked economic and scientific positions in global world affairs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses several issues associated with the strategic partnership of Russia and China. It mentions the role of Arctic climate change posing challenge for the bilateral relation of Russia and China as the disagreements regarding access to sea lanes, fisheries and energy resources have evolved in recent times. Also discussed are the issues related with the shipping.

This article outlines the National Solar Mission's role as India's major climate change mitigation policy, arguing that India's National Solar Mission (NSM) was initially conceived to bolster India's position against legally binding commitments on carbon emissions. However, the NSM also has twin objectives in energy security. Progress in the NSM is outlined before its problems are examined in order to clarify how the Indian government may direct its development to fulfil energy security and energy access goals. This includes examining possibilities in indigenisation of solar manufacture and international funding before concluding that formal co-operation with China, the dominant photovoltaic manufacturer, could be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article argues that the violent conflicts that may follow climate change can be avoided if the correlation between climate change and conflict is understood and its impacts are dealt within a spirit of cooperation. It discusses evidence of past wars that reveals a strong correlation between the intensity of ancient warfare and climate change. It also describes three areas that establish connection between the environment and armed conflict including scarce natural resources.

Both the Chinese government and the Tibetans are in agreement over the impending issues relating to the adverse impact of climate change on Tibet while the India-specific data on glacier melt is as yet inconclusive. There is, however, a difference of perception in Sino-Tibetan discourse over the capitalist model of economic development being undertaken by China which is at variance with the cultural practices of Tibetans, informed and regulated as they are with the Buddhist values of oneness with nature. Nomadism is also fundamental to the preservation of the ecology of Tibet. The Chinese policy of encouraging non-Tibetan influx of population, greater than the sustainable carrying capacity of Tibet, is enhancing the danger of an ecological meltdown. Due to ecological interconnectedness and interdependence, the article argues that Tibet, the water tower of Asia, should be preserved as a regional if not a global common for the sake of south Asian security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has acquired high priority in the United Kingdom's foreign policy. It has in recent years raised the issue of climate change at various international forums, such as G-8, the European Union and the UN Security Council. This article examines how and why climate change has become one of the core components of UK foreign policy, and in so doing analyses the interconnections between foreign policy and climate change, and interactions between domestic and international politics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though global warming and climate change is a real concern and needs to be addressed, it is concerns over energy security that are driving the West's policy and debate on climate change. With the traditional oil and gas market changing in favour of the developing countries, the developed countries are concerned about retaining their preferential access to energy resources. Consequently, they are applying pressure on the emerging economies to cut down on consumption of fossil fuels on the grounds of reducing carbon emissions, whereas their own energy policies indicate that their dependence on fossil fuels, including coal, will continue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The changing nature of geography plays a critical role in the planning and execution of military missions. Geography as a subject combines both the physical and human elements and the rapid transformation of the landscape owing to climate change, and the corresponding cultural impact has to be seriously considered in the environment-security link. Lessons front military history point to the fact that 'geographical ignorance' can be perilous. This article analyses from the Indian context some of the specific geographical factors and their relationship and influence in planning and conduct of military operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnitude of the threat from climate change is starting to be realized by the world's political leaders. A positive aspect of such a threat is that it could unite the world behind a common purpose, but this will require a drastic change in policy, primarily in the United States and the growth countries in Asia. This article argues that India and China could turn the threat from climate change into a political advantage by adopting a new development strategy, based on a demand for full access to all such technologies that may allow to quickly surpass from the dirty stage of development. To develop a leapfrog strategy, however, Indian and Chinese analysts and policy makers need to acquire a profound understanding not only of science and technology but also of how the problems of climate change, energy security and political instability in West Asia (the "Middle East") are related to each other. This will require a combination of knowledge from several academic disciplines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]