Climate Change and Security Risks in River Deltas: California and Danube Deltas

• In Event: Comparative Climate Impacts, Politics, and Policy

Abstract

River deltas are vulnerable ecosystems with critical economic, environmental, and geopolitical significance. Their stability is vital to global security because deltas support vital ecosystems and densely populated human settlements. Climate change exacerbates the inherent fragility of deltas, amplifying vulnerabilities and instigating new risks: sea-level rise, modifications in precipitation patterns, flooding, and drought. The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta (California Delta) in the United States and the Danube Delta in Europe struggle with the manifold repercussions of climate change affecting economic operations, biodiversity richness, and strategic geopolitical importance. The California Delta is a critical water supply for California’s population and agriculture, recognized for protection by the California Bays and Estuaries Policy and a National Heritage Area. The Danube Delta is Europe's largest water purification system, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the largest remaining natural wetland on the continent. This comparative study assesses the climate vulnerability of both deltas to gain a deeper insight into how local communities are affected by climate change, how these communities alter their economic activities in response to the climate repercussions, and what solutions are devised to confront these challenges. The purpose is to develop informed and practical policy recommendations for sustainable and secure delta management in an era of the escalating climate crisis. In addressing the challenges posed by climate change on these vital river deltas, this study examines the role of scientific expertise in democratic decision-making processes, particularly in environmental policymaking for delta regions. The results will apply to delta communities across the globe and offer insight into how these specific circumstances translate into wider consequences for regional and global security.

Author

• Andreea I Mosila, American Public University