January 2012

Climate Change in UK Security Policy

Implications for Development Assistance?

This paper explores changes related to the inclusion and framing of climate change in UK security policy and the possible implications for overseas development assistance (ODA). However, as it argues, the framing of climate change within the security realm does not necessarily equate to a subsequent shift in the priorities of UK ODA programming priorities and funding allocations. There is evidence to suggest climate change has been ‘securitised’, if this is understood to mean the (re)framing of climate change from an environmental/developmental to a security perspective. However, if securitisation is understood to mean a subsequent change in practice, programming and funding, this has not occurred in ODA.

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