IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i14p8253-d857073.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Review of Climate Security Discussions in Japan

Author

Listed:
  • Christo Odeyemi

    (Graduate School of Advanced Integrated Studies in Human Survivability, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8306, Japan)

  • Takashi Sekiyama

    (Graduate School of Advanced Integrated Studies in Human Survivability, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8306, Japan)

Abstract

This review paper provides preliminary analysis and answers to three key questions that were identified by synthesizing qualitative evidence from climate security research in Japan. The questions identified are: (1) Has Japan participated in the global climate security debate at all? (2) Why did climate security struggle to become a major political theme in Japan until 2020? (3) Why did Japan explicitly start dealing with climate security as a policy issue in 2020? We identify and discuss four key reasons relative to the second question. The review provides key details (and general parameters) of these questions that have been overlooked by not only Japanese researchers but also climate security research conducted between 2017 and 2022 in Europe and the United States. Climate security suddenly became a trending topic among Japanese researchers and political elites in 2020; we find evidence that future studies could provide important and more robust insight if an analysis of the above questions is supported by interview data obtained from Japanese government officials. In doing so, researchers will be able to provide valuable insight into the possibility (and extent) that inter-ministerial rivalry between key ministries has impeded domestic progress on climate security action. Furthermore, three separate projects on climate security have been commissioned and recently implemented in Japan. These form the basis for this first systematic literature review of 34 papers and the related research reports resulting from these projects. These papers and reports were retrieved from the electronic databases of Google Scholar, ProQuest, and the National Institute for Environmental Studies in April 2022. While the main limitation of this review paper is that readers are expected to connect these questions to their own experiences at the global level, we reduce the possibility of presenting biased information by identifying and verifying missing details. For example, we had difficulty identifying the method used in one of the co-authored papers and contacted the corresponding author. In summary, sustained discussion in academia and high-politics settings should eventually lead to a greater awareness about climate security.

Suggested Citation

  • Christo Odeyemi & Takashi Sekiyama, 2022. "A Review of Climate Security Discussions in Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-21, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:14:p:8253-:d:857073
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/14/8253/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/14/8253/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Florian Klopfer & René Westerholt & Dietwald Gruehn, 2021. "Conceptual Frameworks for Assessing Climate Change Effects on Urban Areas: A Scoping Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-18, September.
    2. Sivapuram Venkata Rama Krishna Prabhakar & Kentaro Tamura & Naoyuki Okano & Mariko Ikeda, 2021. "Strengthening External Emergency Assistance for Managing Extreme Events, Systemic, and Transboundary Risks in Asia," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(4), pages 27-42.
    3. Judith Nora Hardt, 2021. "The United Nations Security Council at the Forefront of (Climate) Change? Confusion, Stalemate, Ignorance," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(4), pages 5-15.
    4. Su, Yufei & Kern, Jordan D. & Reed, Patrick M. & Characklis, Gregory W., 2020. "Compound hydrometeorological extremes across multiple timescales drive volatility in California electricity market prices and emissions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    5. Ha Pham & Marc Saner, 2021. "A Systematic Literature Review of Inclusive Climate Change Adaption," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-18, September.
    6. Helmi Räisänen & Emma Hakala & Jussi T. Eronen & Janne I. Hukkinen & Mikko J. Virtanen, 2021. "Comprehensive Security: The Opportunities and Challenges of Incorporating Environmental Threats in Security Policy," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(4), pages 91-101.
    7. Takahiro Yamada, 2021. "Transforming the Dynamics of Climate Politics in Japan: Business’ Response to Securitization," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(4), pages 65-78.
    8. Gianluca Pescaroli & David Alexander, 2018. "Understanding Compound, Interconnected, Interacting, and Cascading Risks: A Holistic Framework," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 38(11), pages 2245-2257, November.
    9. Elin Jakobsson, 2021. "How Climate-Induced Migration Entered the UN Policy Agenda in 2007–2010: A Multiple Streams Assessment," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(4), pages 16-26.
    10. Seiichiro Hasui & Hiroshi Komatsu, 2021. "Climate Security and Policy Options in Japan," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(4), pages 79-90.
    11. Hiroshi Ohta, 2020. "The Analysis of Japan’s Energy and Climate Policy from the Aspect of Anticipatory Governance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-22, October.
    12. Florentine Koppenborg & Ulv Hanssen, 2021. "Japan’s Climate Change Discourse: Toward Climate Securitisation?," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(4), pages 53-64.
    13. Peter Tangney & Claire Nettle & Beverley Clarke & Joshua Newman & Cassandra Star, 2021. "Climate security in the Indo-Pacific: a systematic review of governance challenges for enhancing regional climate resilience," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 167(3), pages 1-30, August.
    14. Kanako Morita & Ken'ichi Matsumoto, 2021. "Governance Challenges for Implementing Nature-Based Solutions in the Asian Region," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(4), pages 102-113.
    15. Chun-Hsien Lai & Pi-Ching Liao & Szu-Hung Chen & Yung-Chieh Wang & Chingwen Cheng & Chen-Fa Wu, 2021. "Risk Perception and Adaptation of Climate Change: An Assessment of Community Resilience in Rural Taiwan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-15, March.
    16. Tobias Ide & Marisa O. Ensor & Virginie Le Masson & Susanne Kozak, 2021. "Gender in the Climate-Conflict Nexus: “Forgotten” Variables, Alternative Securities, and Hidden Power Dimensions," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(4), pages 43-52.
    17. Yasuko Kameyama & Yukari Takamura, 2021. "Climate Change and Security: Filling Remaining Gaps," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(4), pages 1-4.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yasuko Kameyama & Yukari Takamura, 2021. "Climate Change and Security: Filling Remaining Gaps," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(4), pages 1-4.
    2. Koh, Rachel & Kern, Jordan & Galelli, Stefano, 2022. "Hard-coupling water and power system models increases the complementarity of renewable energy sources," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 321(C).
    3. Thomas J. Huggins & Lili Yang & Didier Sornette, 2021. "Introduction to the Special Issue on Cascading Disaster Modelling and Prevention," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-4, April.
    4. Veruska Muccione & Thomas Lontzek & Christian Huggel & Philipp Ott & Nadine Salzmann, 2023. "An application of dynamic programming to local adaptation decision-making," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 119(1), pages 523-544, October.
    5. Karel Nepraš & Tereza Strejčková & Roman Kroufek, 2022. "Climate Change Education in Primary and Lower Secondary Education: Systematic Review Results," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-20, November.
    6. Morteza Zare Oskouei & Ayşe Aybike Şeker & Süleyman Tunçel & Emin Demirbaş & Tuba Gözel & Mehmet Hakan Hocaoğlu & Mehdi Abapour & Behnam Mohammadi-Ivatloo, 2022. "A Critical Review on the Impacts of Energy Storage Systems and Demand-Side Management Strategies in the Economic Operation of Renewable-Based Distribution Network," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-34, February.
    7. Einstein Bravo & Carlos A. Amasifuen & Ilse S. Cayo & Eli Pariente & Tito Sanchez & Jheiner Vásquez & Alex J. Vergara, 2024. "Constraints on Public Policy Design and Formulation: A Case Study on the Conservation of Natural Resources in Local Governments of the Amazonia, Peru," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-20, October.
    8. Atiek Widayati & Bastiaan Louman & Elok Mulyoutami & Edi Purwanto & Koen Kusters & Roderick Zagt, 2021. "Communities’ Adaptation and Vulnerability to Climate Change: Implications for Achieving a Climate-Smart Landscape," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-20, August.
    9. Adam Choryński & Iwona Pińskwar & Dariusz Graczyk & Michał Krzyżaniak, 2022. "The Emergence of Different Local Resilience Arrangements Regarding Extreme Weather Events in Small Municipalities—A Case Study from the Wielkopolska Region, Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-25, February.
    10. Oriana Helena Negulescu & Anca Draghici & Gabriela Fistis, 2022. "A Proposed Approach to Monitor and Control Sustainable Development Strategy Implementation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-27, September.
    11. Heidenstrøm, Nina & Throne-Holst, Harald, 2020. "“Someone will take care of it”. Households' understanding of their responsibility to prepare for and cope with electricity and ICT infrastructure breakdowns," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    12. Thomas J. Huggins & Feiyu E & Kangming Chen & Wenwu Gong & Lili Yang, 2020. "Infrastructural Aspects of Rain-Related Cascading Disasters: A Systematic Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-25, July.
    13. Amir Zeighami & Jordan Kern & Andrew J. Yates & Paige Weber & August A. Bruno, 2023. "U.S. West Coast droughts and heat waves exacerbate pollution inequality and can evade emission control policies," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    14. Gong, Xu & Song, Yijie & Fu, Chengbo & Li, Huijing, 2023. "Climate risk and stock performance of fossil fuel companies: An international analysis," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    15. Perera, A.T.D. & Hong, Tianzhen, 2023. "Vulnerability and resilience of urban energy ecosystems to extreme climate events: A systematic review and perspectives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    16. Ivan Villaverde Canosa & James Ford & Jouni Paavola & Daria Burnasheva, 2024. "Community Risk and Resilience to Wildfires: Rethinking the Complex Human–Climate–Fire Relationship in High-Latitude Regions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-22, January.
    17. Wei Liu & Jingxuan Zhang & Long Qian, 2022. "Measuring Community Resilience and Its Determinants: Relocated Vulnerable Community in Western China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-20, December.
    18. Oikonomou, Konstantinos & Tarroja, Brian & Kern, Jordan & Voisin, Nathalie, 2022. "Core process representation in power system operational models: Gaps, challenges, and opportunities for multisector dynamics research," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(PC).
    19. Jennifer Helgeson & Cheyney O’Fallon, 2021. "Resilience Dividends and Resilience Windfalls: Narratives That Tie Disaster Resilience Co-Benefits to Long-Term Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-27, April.
    20. Emanuele Bevacqua & Laura Suarez-Gutierrez & Aglaé Jézéquel & Flavio Lehner & Mathieu Vrac & Pascal Yiou & Jakob Zscheischler, 2023. "Advancing research on compound weather and climate events via large ensemble model simulations," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-16, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:14:p:8253-:d:857073. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.