George Mason University Korea announced on May 22, that its Center for Security Policy Studies–Korea (CSPS-Korea) held the 2019 International Security Symposium on <Environmental Challenges & Solutions> in collaboration with the Center for Security Policy Studies in George Mason’s Arlington campus in the US.
Sponsored by the Incheon Metropolitan City, the National Human Resources Development Institute, and the Green Climate Fund, the symposium began with welcoming remarks by Robert Matz, Dean of George Mason University Korea, and Mark Rozell, Dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, followed by a keynote speech by Ellen Laipson, Director of CSPS in the US campus.
A total of seven speakers, including Dr. Taedong Lee of Yonsei University, Dr. Eun Jung Lim of Ritsumeikan University, and Dr. Ming Wan and Dr. Changwoo Ahn of George Mason University then led seminars on the current status of international security and climate change issues, as well as discussions on comprehensive and professional cooperation by various stakeholders.
"Climate change and environmental challenges now need to be addressed as security issues,” said Ellen Laipson, a former intelligence adviser to US President Barack Obama and current director of CSPS at George Mason University. "It is time to look at climate issues from a 'security' perspective as it is impacting national security, military assets, as well as social and diplomatic issues.”
Andrew Light, a professor at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, presented the US and China’s stance towards global climate change in his seminar, ‘The New Landscape of International Climate Leadership: China, the US, and Global Development Trends.’ Simon Wilson, Head of Communications at the Green Climate Fund, focused on the policy direction of environmental security in his seminar, 'The Green Climate Fund and the Paris Agreement: Global Solutions to Climate Change.’
In particular, Professor Andrew Light said, “The political role of the US and China with regard to global climate change is growing,” adding that “there is a possibility that the US and China’s global development ambitions may unexpectedly be moving in the same direction.” He emphasized the need to keep an eye on these two countries’ stance on the matter.
CSPS-Korea, which newly opened at the George Mason University Korea campus on Monday, is part of the Schar School of Policy and Government, a highly recognized graduate school that ranked second in the US this year for its graduate program in homeland security. (Source: US News and World Report)
CSPS-Korea plans to conduct research on international security and various academic exchange programs between the US and Korea campuses. It also aims to provide relevant academic papers and policy recommendations for today's pressing security challenges while training future policy experts.
May 23, 2019
