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On Environmental Security and Global Environmental Change

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Book cover Earth at Risk in the 21st Century: Rethinking Peace, Environment, Gender, and Human, Water, Health, Food, Energy Security, and Migration

Part of the book series: Pioneers in Arts, Humanities, Science, Engineering, Practice ((PAHSEP,volume 18))

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Abstract

Environmental security analyses the threats to the environment posed by humankind, communities, state activities and nations.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    This text was translated from Spanish and was based on several oral presentations and lectures given in Mexico since 2005.

  2. 2.

    During the Earth Summit Government, delegates also discussed alternative sources of energy to replace the fossil fuels understood to cause global climate change. New public transport systems were explored in order to reduce the polluted air and smoke in cities arising from congestion caused by personal vehicles and emissions of particles by industries, households and cars, which increasingly affect human health and ecosystems. A third crucial theme was the unsustainable use and pollution of fresh water from the surface and aquifers. Discussions covered the destruction of crucial ecosystems and their services, which is compromising natural resources such as water, air, soil, food; supporting services such as nutrient recycling, primary production, flood protection, water purification; regulating services such as pollination, carbon sequestration, climate regulation, waste decomposition and detoxification, purification, and air and water and pest and disease control; and cultural services, which include material and immaterial processes, historical and spiritual experiences, ecotourism, science, education and therapeutic activities. Finally, the loss of fertile top soil by erosion, desertification and inadequate land management is affecting the conservation of ecosystems and agricultural productivity. The Earth Summit also opened for signature important legally binding agreements: the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

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  1. Regional Centre of Multidisciplinary Studies, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico

    Úrsula Oswald Spring

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Oswald Spring, Ú. (2020). On Environmental Security and Global Environmental Change. In: Earth at Risk in the 21st Century: Rethinking Peace, Environment, Gender, and Human, Water, Health, Food, Energy Security, and Migration . Pioneers in Arts, Humanities, Science, Engineering, Practice, vol 18. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38569-9_5

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