Environmental Security : The Challenge of Future

Traditionally, the concept of national security was always associated with the protection of the territorial integrity of the country's borders against any external aggression. Post the Cold War, Human Development Report (HDR) 1994, introduced a new concept of human security, which was a historic departure from the traditional concept of national security. In this concept, much greater stress has been laid on the security of the people through sustainable human development programmes. National security, therefore, has two broad dimensions: traditional and non-traditional. All threats and challenges that impact “human security” are a part of the nontraditional dimension of national security. Similarly, the Commission on Human Security (CHS), constituted in 2000, defines human security as protection of the vital core of all human lives in ways that enhance human freedoms and human fulfillment. It means protecting people from critical and pervasive threats and situations. Based on the threats that influence “human security,” HDR 1994 categorised seven main threats to human security: economic security; food security; health security; environmental security; personal security; community security; and political security.n