On Saturday, May 25th, Dr. Robert Mizo from the Department of Political Science at the University of New Delhi and YCAPS Research Fellow delivered an engaging seminar in Iwakuni on climate change and maritime security as it relates to the QUAD and other Indo-Pacific nations. Attendees from numerous professional backgrounds and nationalities participated in the reception, seminar, and Q&A session. Dr. Mizo’s talk began with detailed explanations on the QUAD, its originally intended missions and ambitions, as well as associated changes to said missions since its establishment. After providing much background surrounding its establishment, Dr. Mizo also presented upon the QUAD’s continued focus on countering China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific as it pursues numerous government initiatives such as the BRI, its activities in the China Seas, and the Maritime Silk Road.
Dr. Mizo went on to explain therole that climate change is playing in altering maritime security goals in the future. As ocean temperatures and sea levels rise, a negative feedback loop presents a plethora of issues for regional actors as extreme weather patterns become more severe, drastically altering the socio-economic situations of entire nations. When such circumstances arise, nations and independent actors may act more rashly causing more security concerns and unrest. Dr. Mizo concluded the seminar by explaining the many ways in which the QUAD can leverage such issues on the global agenda to enhance cooperation and strengthen multi-lateral climate resilience mechanisms.
The seminar’s lively Q&A covered many topics relating to the QUAD, climate change, and the Indo-Pacific. Key question topics included how to best prioritize the needs of the military versus regular citizens and how maritime shipping cooperations can play a role in helping to alleviate their impacts on climate change. Aside from these questions, audience members were also particularly interested in China-India relations as they relate to the maritime domain as well as in what ways the QUAD is currently engaging with other countries to expand its roles and influence in the region.
Dr. Robert Mizo is an Assistant Professor at the Department ofPolitical Science, University of Delhi. His research interests include international climate politics, climate change and security, climate policy making, and climate change and tribal communities. His PhD research was a comparative analysis of the climate policies of China and India. He has published and presented on these subjects at various national and international platforms. He is a recipient of Japan Foundation Indo-Pacific Partnership research fellowship (2024-25) under which he will be studying the impacts and challenges of climate change on the maritime security interests of the QUAD. Additionally, he is also working on a comparative study of climate security policies of India, Japan, China, and the US in collaboration with scholars from these countries. Robert is also a research fellow at the Toda Peace Institute, Tokyo, and will be a visiting fellow to Kyoto University and Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University during the summer of 2024.