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By Rachel Kytonen
rachel.kytonen@ecm-inc.com
As the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen is underway, a 1997 Cambridge-Isanti High School graduate is making waves of her own as the head of Climate Change and Security Programme for an independent think tank headquartered in London.
Since October 2007, Shiloh Fetzek, the daughter of Nancy and Pete Fetzek of Springvale Township, has worked for The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), an independent think tank engaged in cutting edge defense and security research.
Fetzek started as a researcher for Climate Change and Security Programme before being appointed head of the department about one year ago.
RUSI was founded in 1831 by the Duke of Wellington, and embodies nearly two centuries of forward thinking, free discussion and careful reflection on defence and security matters.
Fetzek’s department analyzes the new security risks posed by environmental issues.
“We try and take an understanding about climate change, and look at that in security terms, especially in areas which already have security problems,” Fetzek said while in Cambridge visiting family and friends over the holidays. “We look at areas dependent on sectors sensitive to climate change, dependent on agriculture, populations closely tied to agriculture and countries vulnerable to extreme weather events.”
Fetzek holds an MA in International Politics and Security Studies from the University of Bradford’s Peace Studies department, and a BA in Justice and Peace Studies from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.
Recent work
Her recent postgraduate work examined the current discourses around climate change as a security issue, looking at the United States military’s Africa Command (AFRICOM) as an example of a comprehensive security approach.
Prior to joining RUSI, Fetzek worked at a veterans’ advocacy organization in the United States, and lived in Central and South America.
Her research interests include the security implications of climate-related population movements, health effects of depleted uranium munitions, and indigenous self-governance in Latin America.
“I’ve always been interested in environmental issues from growing up in rural Minnesota,” Fetzek said. “As a student, I was always interested in foreign policies of the U.S., particularly security policy, and how that could be better thought out. My parents really raised me with an awareness of current affairs.”
Fetzek said her department serves as experts when looking at climate impacts for the next 10 to 20 years.
“We look at environmental and economical effects on humans and political systems that could present a situation where governance is overstretched, and can dip into situations of instability,” Fetzek said. “This could lead to tensions with resources and cause existing security situations to escalate. We strive to have a better understanding of areas that are vulnerable and what can be done to help them cope with changing resource availability.”
Fetzek also looks at how developing countries can be vulnerable because they think they aren’t.
“We look at issues like infrastructure, and how dependent the economy is on infrastructure located on the coast, for example,” Fetzek said. “These are problems we have seen hints of before. Hurricane Katrina was consistent with what climate models are predicting and seeing that the unexpected can happen and our systems can break down temporarily.”
Fetzek also looks at implications for the British and U.S. military, such as if there is an increased demand for operatives oversees and equipment needs.
Making a difference
Fetzek feels fortunate to be working in a field she really enjoys.
“I feel I’ve had extremely good fortune,” Fetzek said.
Fetzek interacts with a lot of government agencies regarding the different projects she’s working on.
“We’re working with information that is very new and trying to make use of it in a way that hasn’t been done before,” Fetzek said. “We take regular climate impact projections to try to look at how they play out geophysically and in a sociopolitical sense.
“Especially in Mexico and Central America, people really want to know how they would be impacted because they understand how vulnerable they can be to climate change,” she added.
Living in London is really exciting, Fetzek said, and she intends to stay in her position as long as she can.
“London is an incredibly cosmopolitan city, and it’s exciting to have access to government bodies and tell them about issues we’re working on, what they need to take seriously, and what they need to act on,” Fetzek said. “I enjoy being close to Europe where there are all these layers of history, and people read newspapers and are very well informed.”
As far as the Copenhagen conference, RUSI has a limited role.
“Our institution has produced a couple of reports on how climate change will impact areas of the world if we don’t take action now to eliminate damage,” Fetzek said. “Even if we take ambitious action now, we’re still in a for a bumpy ride. We have a choice on how we can adapt to situations.”
Fetzek, who enrolled in post secondary education options at St. Thomas after her sophomore year, said CIHS prepared her well for her career path, and teachers were supportive of her endeavors.
Cause for concern
No matter where you are in the world, Fetzek feels you need to be concerned with climate change.
“Climate change will impact the entire world,” Fetzek said. “It’s important for us to understand that even if some of the worst impacts happen far away from here...they can impact us, whether it be food distribution or something else.”
Fetzek feels now is the time to act.
“The issue we have is we have a small window of opportunity to change how we produce energy, change transportation models,” Fetzek said. “Even though we can’t feel the impacts now, we need to act now for security and latter parts of the decade.”
For more information on the Royal United Services Institute, visit www.rusi.org.
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