Dimensiunile securității ecologice în era schimbărilor climatice: strategii, cadre instituționale și implicări politice pentru R. Moldova și vecinătatea UE

Authors

  • Luminita Diaconu Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova image/svg+xml Author

Keywords:

ecological security, climate change, transboundary resource management, adaptive governance

Abstract

In an era of unprecedented climate change, ecological security has emerged as a critical dimension of human, national, and regional security. This paper examines the complex interplay between environmental degradation, climate variability, and socio-political vulnerabilities in Moldova and the broader EU neighborhood, with a focus on transboundary resource management and policy responses. Aim: By integrating scenario-based planning, adaptive governance frameworks, and ecological peacebuilding strategies, the study demonstrates how climate-induced ecological stress functions as a “threat multiplier,” exacerbating water scarcity, agricultural disruption, energy insecurity, and socio-political tensions. The Dniester River Basin case study exemplifies the urgent challenges of managing shared water resources under uncertain climate trajectories, highlighting the need for multi-level governance, predictive monitoring, and community engagement. Methodology: Comparative analyses of Moldova, Eastern Partnership countries, and EU member states reveal both governance gaps and opportunities for proactive, coordinated policy. The paper argues that effective ecological security requires not only technical solutions but a moral and strategic commitment to human well-being, social resilience, and regional cooperation. Discussions and results: Ultimately, it contends that the failure to integrate ecological considerations into national and regional security frameworks risks cascading crises, whereas anticipatory, collaborative, and human-centered strategies can transform vulnerability into resilience, forging a pathway toward sustainable peace and prosperity in the face of accelerating environmental change.

References

Adger, W. N. (2000) 'Social and Ecological Resilience: Are They Related?' Progress in Human Geography, 24(3), pp. 347-364. https://doi.org/10.1191/030913200701540465

Bernauer, T., & Gampfer, R. (2018) 'International Cooperation and Climate Policy,' Global Environmental Politics, 18(1), pp. 92-116.

Berkes, F., Colding, J. and Folke, C. (2003) Navigating Social-Ecological Systems: Building Resilience for Complexity and Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Buzan, B., Waever, O., & de Wilde, J. (1998) Security: A New Framework for Analysis. Boulder: Lynne Rienner. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781685853808

Carius, A., Dabelko, G. D., & Wolf, A. T. (2018) Water, Climate, and Conflict. Berlin: Springer. Daly, H. (1991)

Steady-State Economics. Washington: Island Press. European Commission (2021) EU Green Deal and Eastern Partnership Climate Initiatives. Brussels: EC.

FAO (2013) Agricultural Losses in Moldova: 2007-2012 Droughts. Rome: FAO.

Folke, C. et al. (2005) 'Adaptive Governance of Social-Ecological Systems,' Annual Review

of Environment and Resources, 30, pp. 441-473. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.energy.30.050504.144511

Götz, G., & Meier, P. (2015) 'Energy Security in Eastern Europe,' European Security Review, 23, pp. 45-62.

Homer-Dixon, T. (1999) Environment, Scarcity, and Violence. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

IFAD (2019) Rural Vulnerability and Migration in Moldova. Rome: IFAD.

IOM (2020) Migration Trends in the EU Neighbourhood. Geneva: IOM.

IPCC (2021) Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Geneva: IPCC.

IPCC (2022) Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. Geneva: IPCC.

Keohane, R. O., & Nye, J. S. (2012) Power and Interdependence. 4th edn. Boston:

Longman.Roe, S., et al. (2015) Scenario Planning in Climate Change Policy. London: Routledge.

National Bureau of Statistics, Moldova (2022) Statistical Yearbook. Chișinău.

Popa, I., & Simion, G. (2018) Post-Soviet Governance and Environmental Challenges in Moldova. Chisinau: Academy of Sciences.

Roe, S., et al. (2015) Scenario Planning in Climate Change Policy. London: Routledge.

Timo, H. & Fougère, M. (2014) 'Securitisation of Climate Change in Eastern Europe,' Environmental Politics, 23(2), pp. 209-227.

UNDP (1994) Human Development Report. New York: UNDP.

UNDP (2020) Climate Change, Migration, and Security in Eastern Europe. New York: UNDP.

UNDP (2020) Human Development Report: Climate Change and Eastern Europe. New York: UNDP.

UNECE (2019) Dniester River Basin Management. Geneva: UNECE.

UNDRR (2021) Disaster Risk in Eastern Europe. Geneva: UNDRR.

Ullman, R. H. (1983) 'Redefining Security,' International Security, 8(1), pp. 129-153. https://doi.org/10.2307/2538489

US Department of Defense (2014) Climate Change Adaptation Roadmap. Washington DC: DoD.

Waltz, K. (1979) Theory of International Politics. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.

WHO (2020) Climate and Health in Eastern Europe. Geneva: WHO.

WCED (1987) Our Common Future. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

World Bank (2020) Moldova Climate Risk Profile. Washington DC: World Bank.

Published

19.05.2026

Issue

Section

STUDIES AND COMMENTARY

How to Cite

Diaconu, L. (2026) “Dimensiunile securității ecologice în era schimbărilor climatice: strategii, cadre instituționale și implicări politice pentru R. Moldova și vecinătatea UE”, Law and Life, (3(383), pp. 144–164. Available at: https://ojs.lux.md/legea-si-viata/article/view/43 (Accessed: 4 June 2026).

Similar Articles

1-10 of 22

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.

Most read articles by the same author(s)