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Narratives on Climate Security: How Small Islands and the European Union Securitize Climate Change in Climate Summits

Sjöstrand, Julia LU (2025) SIMZ31 20251
Graduate School
Abstract
Climate change is an escalating global issue, with various parts of the world being impacted differently depending on their geographic placement, development status and financial resources. Over the last couple of decades, the intensified climate change impacts have made the climate a subject to be securitized. This happens when a securitizing actor, like a state representative, articulates the climate as an existential threat, elevating it above normal politics. This study analyzes how Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and the European Union (EU) have framed climate as a security issue by comparing statements in climate summits in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022. Through applying an approach from previous research, the statements are... (More)
Climate change is an escalating global issue, with various parts of the world being impacted differently depending on their geographic placement, development status and financial resources. Over the last couple of decades, the intensified climate change impacts have made the climate a subject to be securitized. This happens when a securitizing actor, like a state representative, articulates the climate as an existential threat, elevating it above normal politics. This study analyzes how Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and the European Union (EU) have framed climate as a security issue by comparing statements in climate summits in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022. Through applying an approach from previous research, the statements are categorized into four frames: National Security, International Security, Human Security and Ecological Security. The findings entail both contrasts and similarities between SIDS and the EU. Climate change is largely framed as a global issue threatening international society, its people and the capacity to manage climate stress, leading to global instability and lacking cooperation. While both groups call for effective international action and climate finance, SIDS urge that climate change be considered primarily a human threat, whereas the EU almost exclusively frames it as an international threat. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Sjöstrand, Julia LU
supervisor
organization
course
SIMZ31 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Climate Security, Securitization, Small Island Developing States [SIDS], European Union [EU], Conference of the Parties [COP]
language
English
id
9199138
date added to LUP
2025-06-25 14:01:21
date last changed
2025-06-25 14:01:21
@misc{9199138,
  abstract     = {{Climate change is an escalating global issue, with various parts of the world being impacted differently depending on their geographic placement, development status and financial resources. Over the last couple of decades, the intensified climate change impacts have made the climate a subject to be securitized. This happens when a securitizing actor, like a state representative, articulates the climate as an existential threat, elevating it above normal politics. This study analyzes how Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and the European Union (EU) have framed climate as a security issue by comparing statements in climate summits in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022. Through applying an approach from previous research, the statements are categorized into four frames: National Security, International Security, Human Security and Ecological Security. The findings entail both contrasts and similarities between SIDS and the EU. Climate change is largely framed as a global issue threatening international society, its people and the capacity to manage climate stress, leading to global instability and lacking cooperation. While both groups call for effective international action and climate finance, SIDS urge that climate change be considered primarily a human threat, whereas the EU almost exclusively frames it as an international threat.}},
  author       = {{Sjöstrand, Julia}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Narratives on Climate Security: How Small Islands and the European Union Securitize Climate Change in Climate Summits}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}