NAPSNet 16 June 2011

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NAPSNet 16 June 2011

 

DETERRENCE:  Deterrence during disarmament: deep nuclear reductions and international security, IISS (2010)

In Adelphi Paper 417, James Acton examines whether “downsizing” nuclear arsenals to low levels would undermine nuclear extended deterrence and disrupt alliances; and create first-use incentives and crisis instability—especially in a multi-polar, nuclear-armed world.  Acton argues that arsenal size per se does not affect these security challenges and deep cuts would not lead to chaos, instability, let alone nuclear war.

GOVERNANCE AND CIVIL SOCIETY:World Wide “No Nuke” demonstrations on 3 month anniversary of Fukushima, Asahi Shimbun (11 June 2011) [Japanese Language]

Just three months after the Fukushima disaster, anti nuclear solidarity demonstrations took place in cities all over the world. Professional men and women, housewives and youth participated. Japan’s Prime Minister Naoto Kan announced that renewable energy will provide 20 % of Japan’s electricity by 2020. Major reactor makers said that they will expand energy-efficient pursuits including energy-smart communities’.

ENERGY SECURITY:  Korea’s 97 billion dollar question: what is green growth? Asia Foundation (June 2011) [PDF, 3.75MB]

Jill Kosch O’Donnell of the Center for US-Korea Policy in the Korea Foundation notes that thus far the results of South Korea’s announced 107 T won investment in “green growth” have been mixed.  Laws have been passed to move green growth forward, but policies such as carbon cap-and-trade are not popular, bilateral cooperation also involved competition considerations, and organizations implementing the strategy define the goals differently.

DPRK: N. Korea, China allegedly agreed to oilfield development, Arirang News, 2011-30-05

An advisor to the Korea International Trade Association, a South Korean trade organization, reported that the DPRK and PRC have agreed to a joint oil development project in Seohan Bay in the Sea West of the Korean Peninsula.  The West Sea oil project has been in development for more than a decade. Companies from Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, and the United Kingdom have previously explored developing the oil-fields. 

CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION: How can decision-makers in developing countries incorporate uncertainty about future climate risks into existing planning and policymaking processes? Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy, and Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment (March 2011) [422 KB, PDF]

Nicola Ranger and Su-Lin Garbett-Shiels set out principles that aim to reduce the impact of climate uncertainty on decision-making. They draw out some interconnected messages for decision-makers, including: (1) it is crucial to integrate adaptation planning within the existing priorities; and (2) adaptation strengthens the case for pushing ‘faster and harder’ on development priorities. The authors argue that adaptation and development are not opposing priorities that must be weighed up against each other.       

AUSTRAL SECURITY: China navy reaches far, unsettling the region, NYT (14 June 2011)

Increasing Chinese maritime dominance in the South China Sea has once again aggravated long standing tensions in the region. These reports analyse the newest developments in the region and explore prospects for conflict management.

 

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