The actor role of educational institutions on climate security in the perspective of Green Theory

Climate change is a systematic alteration in weather patterns that can be observed through systematic measurements. The majority of climate experts agree that climate change is already occurring. They argue that this change is largely attributed to human activities and advocate for taking action to mitigate its effects and halt its progression. In the 21st century, climate change has been observed due to the increasing impact of industrialization, globalization, and technological advancements on Earth. Particularly, new phenomena and concepts emerging after the end of the Cold War have heightened humanity's focus on normative issues such as climate change. During this period, there has been a transformation in security perceptions, shifting towards humanitarian and climate dimensions. As a result, concerns among academics and theorists in the field of International Relations (IR) have heightened due to these reasons. At the macro level, states and international organizations, and at the micro level, national actors, have shifted their focus towards the phenomenon of climate change and security. At this juncture, Green Theory's solution proposal of 'Think Globally, Act Locally' comes into play. According to this perspective, every individual should reduce their own environmental impacts for a healthy and sustainable environment. This study argues that educational institutions play a pivotal role in combating climate change, and with increased efforts from these institutions, positive outcomes can be achieved at local and national levels. In this context, the scope, objectives, research questions, and hypothesis of the thesis have been defined, and a roadmap supported by Green Theory and resources transforming the security dimension has been outlined. Therefore, the aim of this study is to position educational institutions as the primary national security actors in addressing climate change, to investigate their initiatives, and to create a guide for future strategies.