Addressing the threats of climate change to the maritime security of countries in the Indo-Pacific region and the region as a whole.

Key Chapter Title List

1. Background
2. First NMF-KAS Workshop: Critical Maritime Infrastructure Threats Induced by Climate Change (National and Regional Perspectives)
3. Second NMF-KAS Workshop: National Security Threats Induced by Climate Change (Including Maritime Crime, Terrorism, and Inter-State Conflict)
4. Policy Recommendations
5. Key Takeaways
6. Activity Report
7. Concept Note
8. Workshop Highlights
9. Social Media Coverage
10. Appendix (Workshop Agenda and Speaker Profiles)

Document Introduction

Against the backdrop where global climate change has evolved from a long-term challenge into an urgent security threat, the Indo-Pacific region—an area characterized by vibrant economic activity, abundant marine resources, and complex geopolitical dynamics—is facing multiple maritime security risks arising from sea-level rise, extreme climate events, and more. These risks not only directly impact coastal infrastructure but may also intensify resource competition, trigger maritime crime, and even lead to inter-state conflicts, posing severe challenges to regional stability and the rules-based order.

This report is the outcome of a long-term collaborative project initiated by the National Maritime Foundation (NMF) of India and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS). It synthesizes the core content of two international workshops held between October 2022 and August 2023. The project aims to systematically outline the specific threats posed by climate change to the maritime security of individual nations and the region as a whole in the Indo-Pacific. By consolidating consensus among experts, scholars, policymakers, and practitioners, it seeks to formulate targeted and actionable policy recommendations.

The report has a clear structure, divided into two core thematic workshop sections. The first section focuses on the threats of climate change to critical maritime infrastructure, providing an in-depth analysis of the vulnerabilities of coastal infrastructure in sectors such as transportation, energy, and telecommunications. It explores the specific impacts of climatic factors like sea-level rise and intense cyclones, along with adaptation strategies. The second section centers on the nexus between climate change and national security, with a primary focus on the triggering mechanisms for maritime crime, terrorism, and inter-state conflict, as well as derivative security issues such as climate migration and resource scarcity.

The research employs a multidisciplinary analytical approach, integrating case studies, data modeling, and regional comparisons. It fully incorporates the practical experiences and academic insights from multiple countries within the Indo-Pacific region. The policy recommendations proposed in the report span multiple dimensions, including the enhancement of scientific and technological capabilities, the construction of risk assessment systems, the building of infrastructure resilience, and the strengthening of regional cooperation mechanisms. These encompass both hardware measures such as seawalls and breakwaters, as well as software solutions involving policy adjustments, community empowerment, and the refinement of legal frameworks.

As the first comprehensive research output in the Indo-Pacific region focusing on climate change and overall maritime security, this report provides a reference for policymakers' decision-making, expands the research horizons for academic institutions, and offers a pragmatic pathway for countries within the region to engage in maritime security cooperation. It holds significant value for enhancing the overall capacity of the Indo-Pacific region to address the security risks posed by climate change.