REGIONAL IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY AND KEY ASPECTS OF MUTUAL COOPERATION

Abstract

Environmental security has become a central concern in contemporary international relations, as environmental degradation, resource scarcity, and ecosystem disruption increasingly influence political stability and socioeconomic development. This study employs a qualitative legal‐analytical approach—examining international treaties, regional agreements, and case studies—to assess how environmental security challenges manifest in Central and Southeast Asia and to identify cooperative mechanisms that mitigate conflict risks. Findings reveal that shared water resource management in Central Asia and haze pollution control in Southeast Asia depend critically on binding legal instruments, functional institutions, and transparent data sharing. Policy recommendations emphasize the need for strengthened legal frameworks, institutional capacity building, integration of scientific data into decision‐making, and multistakeholder engagement.