The conceptionand conduct ofenvironmental research 327are depleting them, we are seriously affecting their use even at a modest
level by future generations. Further, over eighty per cent of resources are
consumed by twenty per cent of the world’s population and to propagate
modern western patterns of consumption into the developing world is
just not realistic. An important component of sustainable development,
therefore, issustainable consumption^4 of all resources.
The fourth issue is that of global security. Our traditional under-
standing of security is based on the concept of the sovereign state with
secure borders against the outside world. But communications, industry
and commerce increasingly ignore state borders, and problems like that
of global warming and the other global issues we have mentioned tran-
scend national boundaries. Security therefore also needs to take on more
of a global dimension.
The impacts of climate change may well pose a threat to security. One
of the most recent wars has been fought over oil. It has been suggested that
wars of the future could be fought over water.^5 The threat of conflict must
be greater if nations lose scarce water supplies or the means of livelihood
as a result of climate change. A dangerous level of tension could easily
arise, with large numbers of environmental refugees. As has been pointed
out by Admiral Sir Julian Oswald,^6 who has been deeply concerned with
British defence policy, a broader strategy regarding security needs to be
developed which considersinter aliaenvironmental threats as a possible
source of conflict. In addressing the appropriate action to combat such
threats, it may be better overall and more cost-effective in security terms
to allocate resources to the removal or the alleviation of the environmental
threat rather than to military or other measures to deal head-on with the
security problem itself.
The conception and conduct of environmental research
While completing the writing of this last chapter I attended the opening
of the Zuckerman Centre for Connective Environmental Research at the
University of East Anglia – a centre devoted to interdisciplinary research
on the environment. An opening lecture was given by William Clark, Pro-
fessor of International Science, Public Policy and Human Development
at Harvard University.^8 I was particularly struck by his remarks concern-
ing the changes that are necessary in the way research is conceived and
conducted if science (both natural and social) and technology are going
to provide more adequate support to environmental sustainability. He
pointed out the need to address all aspects of a problem both in the con-
ception of the research and in its conduct and particularly emphasised
the following four requirements: