Abstract
Between 2007 and 2020, France has been one of the driving forces behind the debates on climate security within the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). This support increased under the Hollande and Macron presidencies as climate diplomacy became an important component of the country’s foreign policy after the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015. France’s current approach to climate security is the result of the development of different policy narratives in the discourses and practices of policymakers, which tend to adopt a risk-based approach to climate change, both nationally and internationally. Recent debates on climate security in France show a growing concern for the anticipation and the prevention of the potential crises that climate change can trigger, and their implications for different policy areas. In the menacing context of the Anthropocene, and thanks to a discursive analysis of primary sources, I will show that the social and political construction of risks could lead to a more securitised approach to climate policies in France.
Adrien Estève, Sciences Po, Paris, France; e-mail: adrien.esteve@sciencespo.fr.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alex, Bastien; Estève, Adrien, 2018: “Les Acteurs De La Défense Face Au Changement Climatique: Itinéraire D’une Nouvelle Contrainte Stratégique En France Et Aux États-Unis”, in: Revue internationale et stratégique, 109,1: 93–103.
Alliance Sahel (AS), 2017: “Sahel Alliance Launched: Eur 6bn and 500 Projects for Development”; at: https://www.afd.fr/fr/actualites/alliance-sahel-6-milliards-et-500-projets-pour-le-developpement.
AS, 2018: Agriculture, Rural Development and Food Security; at: https://www.alliance-sahel.org/en/fields/agriculture-rural-development-food-securite/.
AS, 2019: “Nous Devons Aider Plus Rapidement Et Mieux Le Sahel”, in: LeMonde.fr.; at: https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2019/02/05/nous-devons-aider-plus-rapidement-et-mieux-le-sahel_5419637_3212.html.
Boulanger, Philippe, 2010: “Du Bon Usage De L’environnement Par Les Armées. Le Début Des Stratégies Nationales Militaires De Développement Durable”, in: Cahiers de géographie du Québec, 54,152: 313–36.
Briggs, Chad Michael, 2012: “Climate Security, Risk Assessment and Military Planning”, in: International Affairs, 88,5: 1049–64.
Climate Exile Research Program, 2013: “Rapport Scientifique - Gérer Les Déplacements Des Populations Dus Aux Phénomènes Climatiques Extrêmes (2010–2013)”; at: http://www.reseau-terra.eu/exclim/IMG/pdf/exclim_rapport_final.pdf.
Climate Risks and Early Warning Systems, 2018: “Annual Report 2018”; at: https://www.crews-initiative.org/en/about-us/crews-annual-reports.
Corry, Olaf, 2012: “Securitisation and ‘Riskification’: Second-Order Security and the Politics of Climate Change”, in: Millennium - Journal of International Studies, 40,2: 235–58.
Ecological Defence Council, 2020: “Intervention D’elisabeth Borne, 4ème Conseil De Défense Écologique, Paris – 12 Février 2020”; at: https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/intervention-delisabeth-borne-4eme-conseil-defense-ecologique-paris-12-fevrier-2020.
Estève, Adrien, 2021: “Preparing the French Military to a Warming World: Climatization through Riskification”, in: International Politics, 58,4: 600–18.
European Commission (EC), 2018: “Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the Implementation of the Eu Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change” (Brussels: EC); at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri= CELEX:52018DC0738&from=EN
French Development Agency, 2017: “Adapt’action: Ensemble Face Au Changement Climatique”; at: https://www.afd.fr/fr/ressources/adaptaction-ensemble-face-au-changement-climatique.
Government of France, 2019: “Convention Citoyenne Pour Le Climat – Synthèse Des Contributions De La Première Phase”; at: https://contribuez. conventioncitoyennepourleclimat.fr/pages/ synthese-phase1?format=html&locale=fr.
High Council for Climate, 2019: “Premier Rapport Annuel Du Haut Conseil Pour Le Climat - Agir En Cohérence Avec Les Ambitions”; at: https://www.vie-publique.fr/rapport/38343-premier-rapport-annuel-du-haut-conseil-pour-le-climat.
International Military Council on Climate and Security, 2020: “The World Climate and Security Report 2020 – a Product of the Expert Group of the Imccs”; at: https: //imccs.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/World-Climate-Security-Report-2020_2_13.pdf.
Judge, Andrew; Maltby, Tomas, 2017: “European Energy Union? Caught between Securitisation and ‘Riskification’”, in: European Journal of International Security, 2,2: 179–202.
Maertens, Lucile, 2021: “Climatizing the UN Security Council”, in: International Politics, 58,4: 640–60.
MEIT, 2020: “Le Plan National Santé Environnement (Pnse)”; at: https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/plan-national-sante-environnement-pnse.
Ministry of Agriculture and Food (MAAF), 2016: “Declaration of Intention for the Formation of a ‘4 Per 1000: Soils for Food Security and Climate’ Consortium”; at: https:/ /www. 4p1000.org/sites/default/files/content/gov_do_en_forum_2-1-report_forum_1_marrakech. pdf.
Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, 2017: “Jean-Yves Le Drian Défend Une Diplomatie Sécuritaire Préventive Au Sahel”; at: https://www.lopinion.fr/international/jean-yves-le-drian-defend-une-diplomatie-securitaire-preventive-au-sahel.
Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, 2019: “Climate & Security: To Anticipate, Prevent and Limit the Effects”; at: https://onu.delegfrance.org/Climate-Security-to-anticipate-prevent-and-limit-the-effects
Ministry of the Armed Forces, 2015: “International Conference of Defence Ministers and Senior Officials—the Implications of Climate Change for Defence”; at: https://www.defense.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/tronc_commun/28.04.2022%20Strat%C3%A9gie%20climat%20et%20d%C3%A9fense.pdf.
Ministry of the Armed Forces, 2017: “Revue Stratégique De Defense Et De Sécurité Nationale”; at: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/2017-rs-def1018_cle0b6ef5-1.pdf.
Ministry of the Armed Forces, 2018: “Defence and Climate: France is Committed”; at: https://www.archives.defense.gouv.fr/content/download/539178/9257163/file/Plaquette-DefClim-2018.pdf.
Ministry of the Armed Forces, 2019: “Implications of Climate Change on Defence and Security in the South Pacific by 2030”; at: https://climateandsecurity.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/obs_climat-et-dc3a9fense_201905-re-implications-of-climate-change-in-the-south-pacific-by-2030-spdmm-report.pdf.
Ministry of the Ecological and Inclusive Transition, 2015: “Observatoire National Sur Les Effets Du Réchauffement Climatique (Onerc), 2014–2015 Annual Report”; at: https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/observatoire-national-sur-effets-du-rechauffement-climatique-onerc.
Ministry of the Ecological and Inclusive Transition, 2018: “La Sécurité Alimentaire Et Le Changement Climatique”; at: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/politique-etrangere-de-la-france/developpement/autres-secteurs-d-importance/securite-alimentaire-nutrition-et-agriculture-durable/la-securite-alimentaire-et-le-changement-climatique/.
Ministry of the Ecological and Inclusive Transition, 2018a: “Le Plan National D’adaptation Au Changement Climatique (Pnacc 2)”; at: https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/2018.12.20_PNACC2.pdf.
Ministry of the Ecological and Inclusive Transition (MEIT), 2019: “Changement Climatique – Impacts En France”; at: https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/impacts-du-changement-climatique-sante-et-societe.
Ministry of the Ecological and Inclusive Transition, 2020: “Le Plan National Santé Environnement (Pnse)”, at: https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/plan-national-sante-environnement-pnse.
Ministry of the Interior, 2018: “La Lettre De La Mission De La Stratégie Et De La Prospective N°1”; at: https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Le-ministere/Securite-civile/Documentation-technique/Mission-de-la-strategie-et-de-la-prospective.
National Assembly, 2018: “Rapport Fait Au Nom De La Commission D’enquête Sur La Sûreté Et La Sécurité Des Installations Nucléaires”; at: https://www2.assemblee-nationale.fr/15/autres-commissions/commissions-d-enquete-de-la-xv-eme-legislature/commission-d-enquete-sur-la-surete-et-la-securite-des-installations-nucleaires.
National Assembly, 2019: “Proposition De Loi Visant À Mieux Anticiper Les Déplacements Des Populations Victimes Des Changements Climatiques Et Environnementaux, En France Et Dans Le Monde”; at: https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/dyn/15/textes/l15b2533_proposition-loi.
National Assembly, 2021: “Parliamentary Mission on ‘Climate Imbalances and Conflicts’”; at: http://www2.assemblee-nationale.fr/15/commissions-permanentes/commission-des-affaires-etrangeres/missions-d-information/dereglements-climatiques-et-conflits/(block)/56314.
National Assembly, 2021a: “Projet De Loi Portant Lutte Contre Le Dérèglement Climatique Et Renforcement De La Résilience Face À Ses Effets”; at: https://www.assemblee-nationale. fr/dyn/15/textes/l15b3875_projet-loi.pdf.
Observatory of Climate Change Impacts on Defence and Security (OCCIDS), 2018: “Rapport D’étude N°6 – Prospective Sahel”; at: https://www.iris-france.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/RE6_Prospective-Sahel_V1.pdf.
OCCIDS, 2019: “Rapport D’étude N°8 – Pacifique Sud”; at: https://www.iris-france.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/201902-D%C3%A9fense-Climat-Pacifique_Sud-RE-n8.pdf.
Oels, Angela, 2013: “Rendering Climate Change Governable by Risk: From Probability to Contingency”, in: Geoforum, 45,17–29.
One Planet Summit (OPS), 2018: “One Planet Summit Program, New York City - September 26, 2018”; at: https://www.oneplanetsummit.fr/en/events-16/2nd-edition-one-planet-summit-new-york-4.
OPS, 2019: “Africa Pledge – Chair Summary”; at: https://www.oneplanetsummit.fr/les-evenements-16/le-one-planet-summit-se-reunit-nairobi-67.
Permanent mission of France to the United Nations, 2016: “Peace and Security in Africa: Challenges in the Sahel Region—Statement by Mr Alexis Lamek, Deputy Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations - Security Council, 26 May 2016”; at: https://onu.delegfrance.org/Challenges-to-the-security-and-development-of-the-Sahel-are-immense.
Permanent mission of France to the United Nations, 2018: “Risks Related to Climate Change for International Peace and Security. Statement of Mr. François Delattre, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations - Security Council - 11 July 2018”; at: https://onu.delegfrance.org/In-the-face-of-climate-change-we-must-move-forward.
Permanent mission of France to the United Nations, 2019: “Climate & Security: To Anticipate, Prevent and Limit the Effects, Addressing the Impacts of Climate-Related Disasters on International Peace and Security, Statement by Mrs. Anne Gueguen, Deputy Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations, Chargée D’affaires A.I. Security Council, 25 January 2019”; at:https://onu.delegfrance.org/Climate-Security-to-anticipate-prevent-and-limit-the-effects.
Permanent Secretariat of the G5 Sahel, 2016: “Sahel: Le Changement Climatique Joue Un Rôle Dans L’instabilité De La Région, Selon Des Responsables Onusiens” (New York: UNSC); at: https://news.un.org/fr/story/2016/05/336102.
Permanent Secretariat of the G5 Sahel, 2018: “Faire Face Aux Défis Du Changement Climatique Et À Leurs Consequences”; at: https://www.g5sahel.org/le-president-en-exercice-du-g5s-demande-de-faire-face-aux-defis-du-changement-climatique-et-a-leurs-consequences/.
President of the French Republic, 2017: “Discours De Clôture Du Président De La République Au One Planet Summit”; at: https://www.elysee.fr/emmanuel-macron/2017/12/12/discours-de-cloture-du-president-de-la-republique-au-one-planet-summit.
President of the French Republic, 2019: “Contribuez Au Fonds Vert Pour Le Climat”; at: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1144278345763363
President of the French Republic, 2019a: “Forêt Amazonienne: Une Délégation De Guyane Avec Macron À L’onu”; at: https://www.geo.fr/environnement/foret-amazonienne-une-delegation-de-guyane-avec-macron-a-lonu-197567.
President of the French Republic, 2021: “Intervention Du Président Emmanuel Macron À L’occasion D’un Débat Organisé Par Le Conseil De Sécurité Des Nations Unies”; at: https://www.elysee.fr/emmanuel-macron/2021/02/23/intervention-du-president-emmanuel-macron-a-loccasion-dun-debat-organise-par-le-conseil-de-securite-des-nations-unies.
Rasmussen, Mikkel Vedby, 2006: The Risk Society at War: Terror, Technology and Strategy in the Twenty-First Century (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press).
Senate, 2019: “Rapport D’information Fait Au Nom De La Delegation Sénatoriale Aux Outre-Mer—Risques Naturels Majeurs: Bâtir La Resilience Des Outre-Mer”; at: https: //www.senat.fr/rap/r19-122-1/r19-122-11.pdf.
United Nations (UN), 2007: “Le Conseil De Sécurité Examine Pour La Première Fois L’impact Des Changements Climatiques Sur La Sécurité Dans Le Monde”; at: https://www. un.org/press/fr/2007/CS9000.doc.htm.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Estève, A. (2023). Preventing and Managing Climate Risks: France’s Approach to Climate Security. In: Hardt, J.N., Harrington, C., von Lucke, F., Estève, A., Simpson, N.P. (eds) Climate Security in the Anthropocene. The Anthropocene: Politik—Economics—Society—Science, vol 33. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-26014-8_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-26014-8_6
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-26016-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-26014-8
eBook Packages: Political Science and International StudiesPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)