Page 162 - 《国际安全研究》2023年第2期

Journal of International Security Studies

use the securitization theory to describe and explain this process, which lacks both
explanatory power and narrative integrity. This paper points out that the securitization
theory cannot provide a convincing explanation for the process and results of the
Security Council’s debates on climate change and security due to its ignoring of the
initiative of the “audience” in the securitization process. Therefore, this paper attempts
to establish a new framework for comparative analysis, in which a more complete
analysis could be made via the verbatim proceedings of these debates. It argues that
there are actually two discourse practices in the debates representing two kinds of
cognition and logic concerning security risks and countermeasures against climate
change rather than just the pathway and logic of securitization. From the perspective
of policy, although there exists limited consensus in this prolonged debate, deep
divergences on climate change and security and different logic behind them as well
as discourse competition, especially among the permanent members of the Security
Council, lead to the low political feasibility of adopting a binding universal resolution.
The global climate change governance regime based on the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change remains to be the most authoritative,
legitimate, universal, and professional international institutional response to the issue
of climate change. As a permanent member of the Security Council, China should not
only maintain the regime’s status as the main channel, but also play a greater role in
the debates on climate change and security in the Security Council.
[Keywords] Security Council, debates on climate change and security, securitization,
development and climate change
[Author] BO Yan, Professor, School of International Relations and Public Affairs,
Fudan University (Shanghai, 200433).

134 Probing into the Transmission Mechanism of Climate Change and
Violent Conflict from the Perspective of Vulnerability

LIU Jingwen
[Abstract] Climate change affects the possibility of violent conflict through direct or
indirect ways, thus the causal transmission mechanism between climate change and
violent conflict needs to be further explored. This paper tends to probe into the
transmission mechanism between climate change and violent conflict from the
perspective of vulnerability. Considering the complex and interwoven natural and
social factors, as well as the independence and multiplicity of the links, the paper
describes a three-level climate-conflict transmission mechanism and emphasizes the
structural position of vulnerability in the composite transmission mechanism between
climate change and violent conflict. Vulnerability is elaborated in this paper from such
four aspects as ecology, economy, society and politics and its important role in the
climate-conflict transmission mechanism is also fully analyzed. Climate change is an
exogenous trigger of violent conflict, and vulnerability, as an endogenous social factor,
serves as a protective screen against climate-conflict risks. Increased vulnerability will
weaken the barrier function of the country against risks of violent conflict and give
rise to a significant increase in climate-conflict risks.
[Keywords] climate change, climate conflict, vulnerability, climate security, violent
conflict
[Author] LIU Jingwen, Ph.D. Candidate, School of International Studies, Peking
University (Beijing, 100871).

（本期英文编辑：张国帅 高静）

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