Environmental Issues
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Climate
U.S. military fosters environmental awareness, protection during training
FORUM Staff Military exercises can be big, loud and destructive by nature. After all, when Soldiers train in the most realistic scenarios, they’re better prepared for missions. But what consideration is given to the surroundings where troops conduct drills? Can military training and care for the environment coexist? In the United States military, they can, and U.S. service members enter…
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Climate
Indonesia prioritizes sustainability, security
Gusty Da Costa Indonesia is confronting security challenges triggered by climate change and the urgent need for sustainability and resilience to protect its population and ensure the effectiveness of its military. This awareness translates into action with a plan to transition from fossil fuels, measures to build resilience into its Armed Forces and the establishment of a new “sustainable forest…
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Climate
U.S. research ship leads data-collection expedition in Indo-Pacific
FORUM Staff The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ship Rainier embarked in February 2023 on a dual-purpose journey to improve security and scientific research in the Indo-Pacific. The mission, known as RICHARD (Rainier Integrates Charting, Hydrography, and Reef Demographics) involves collecting mapping data to update navigational charts, as well as integrating data on coral reef ecosystems. In…
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Asymmetric Threats
Resource Wars
How China Weaponizes Water
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Climate
PRC’s ‘obsession with coal power’ stoking worries over deadly pollutants
FORUM Staff Even as world leaders gathered for a climate conference in Egypt in November 2022, a record drought in China continued fanning fears over that nation’s carbon dioxide emissions and the ripple effects on its strained water supply. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) — already the biggest carbon emitter, accounting for nearly one-third of the annual global total…
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Southeast Asia
Indonesian Navy to continue crucial underwater mapping in 2023
Gusty Da Costa The Indonesian Navy plans to continue mapping the country’s underwater terrain in 2023, a vital process in ensuring maritime security, setting international boundaries, protecting fisheries and enhancing navigation, among other areas. Such maps benefit many countries, thus making the effort an opportunity for international cooperation, experts say. Underwater terrain mapping remains an urgent national priority for 2023,…
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Climate
Security Threat
FORUM Staff The vast Indo-Pacific sits at the forefront of critical climate challenges that contribute to conflict, instability and forced migration. Changes in the seas and oceans, in particular, pose an increasing security threat. “Climate change-exacerbated impacts such as increasing food and water insecurity, forced migration and displacement, disaster response and recovery that does not meet expectations, and broader economic…
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Key Issues
Dialogue, cooperation keys to success for Partners of the Blue Pacific initiative, analysts say
Tom Abke Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States launched the Partners of the Blue Pacific (PBP) initiative in June 2022 to enhance cooperation with Pacific Island Countries (PICs). PBP stands in contrast to a one-sided Pacific Islands scheme recently proffered by the People’s Republic of China (PRC), according to analysts. “The PBP initiative involved prior…
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