An Environmental Security Course at West Point Marie C. Johnson Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering, USMA, West Point, NY Course outcomes Course context and content This course is taken by senior environmental science majors in their last semester. It effectively combines their two interests. Summary Assigned reading At the conclusion of this course, a student will be able to: 1.Explain the concept of environmental security in his/her own words. 2.Describe the relevance of environmental security to U.S. national security. 3.Evaluate the available future energy options for the United States given projected technical, economic, and socio-political constraints. 4.Evaluate environmental, technical, economic, and socio-political considerations and propose a sustainable energy plan for a developing region of the world. Assessment is conducted via written exams, oral briefs, short written papers, and the larger term project. Assessment 1. Readings in Environmental Security assembled by the instructor, includes non-copyrighted sources from the Department of Defense, United Nations and other relief organizations, and the academic community. 2. Oil and the Future of Energy, the Editors of Scientific American, the Lyons Press, foryourfreedomandmine.com/default.aspx i.mktw.net/newsimages/NewsCommentary/SpecialReports/TheHea tIsOn/day2energy_bkgd2_660x852.gif blog.kir.com/archives/cat_economics_energy_prices.asp This course explores the link between the environment and national security. It specifically focuses on four key drivers: food, water, infectious disease and energy. If a state cannot secure enough food and water for its citizens, effectively respond to infectious disease outbreaks and/or provide energy to drive its economy, it runs the risk of disintegrating socially and politically, becoming a breeding ground for terrorism and violence, and threatening the stability of all other states in our globalized society. foodwaterinfectious disease energy national security vironment_plant.jpg newsblaze.com/pix/2006/0604/pix/CSMB2.jpg At mid-semester, the students form teams, choose a developing country, and ultimately devise a strategy to further energy security in this country given its unique mix of environmental, technological, economic and socio-political constraints. Term project The Environ mental Perform ance Index The Human Development Index + the environment the Army Worldwide Governance Indicators Metrics of a Country’s Security