PNNL

Abstract

Security is a growing concern worldwide, and homeland security has captured the attention of the United States over the past year and a half. In addition, awareness of the concept of environmental security—the notion that environmental degradation may have security implications—has been growing over the past decade. Internationally, environmental issues have direct links to security, as evidenced by the Middle East water disputes. While environmental security has not historically been a topic of major concern within the national boundaries of the United States or Canada, the environmental and development challenges that we’re facing in the Puget Sound/Georgia Basin (PS/GB), coupled with this growing concern for security, prompted a query to consider whether environmental or natural resource problems could pose a serious threat to regional cooperation or stability in the PS/GB and, hence, deserve more attention from regional decision-makers. This discussion is expected to provide a useful focus for future collaboration and integration in the PS/GB.