Beyond Apocalypse: Securitization and Exceptionalism in Environmental Politics
Publisher: E-International Relations
Author(s): Yifei Shao
Date: 2025
Topics: Climate Change, Conflict Causes
Environmental issues are frequently depicted as a significant security risk and an apocalyptic catastrophe, threatening all life on Earth. The nascent discourse of a ‘climate emergency’ has prompted continuous discussions in academia, yet the crisis itself remains contested. The implications of environmental issues for international security have been fiercely debated at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) conferences; however, delegates from different countries have remained divided on the connections between climate change and conflict. Although environmental issues have been significantly securitised rhetorically and discursively, politicians have not translated the corresponding notion of urgency into extraordinary political measures. This essay argues that, despite the apocalyptic framing of environmental crises, political actors frequently refrain from articulating exceptional or extraordinary responses due to the inherent risks and challenges associated with mobilising such actions.