What are non-traditional threats to the world?

Security has always been one of the basic necessities of human being and with the passage of time, its definition is also changed. Usually, it is considered as one's safety from violent attacks by other people or animals, but, its definition is changed recently due to the increase of threats to human beings other than other humans or animals.

Non-traditional security threats/challenges are the issues that arise out of non-military sources and which are threatening to the lives of people and also to the national security of the states. Non-traditional issues are as much important for the states as the traditional ones i.e., military standoffs, political and diplomatic conflicts. 

In the 21st century, we, human beings are at the peak of development in every field. Now we have answers to the questions that were once unknown, we possess knowledge beyond the stars. Despite such an enormous development in every field, new challenges emerged which have pose threats to human existence on earth. The non-traditional threats are doing probably equal damage to the earth if not more than the traditional ones.

What are the major non-traditional security threats to humanity?

Non-traditional security challenges include climate change, food shortages, resources scarcity, natural disasters, infectious diseases, pandemics, irregular migration, people smuggling, drug trafficking and transnational crime. They are interlinked with one another and the occurrence of one may result in the rise of another for example climate change may result in disasters, infectious diseases and migration. Similarly, the phenomenon of irregular migration of people might give also rise to issues like smuggling, drug trafficking and human trafficking as well as transnational crimes.

How can these issues threaten human security?

The issues can be threatening to human security in many ways for example we now have started to observe the impacts of climate change on our lives in the form of extreme hot and cold waves of weather which suffers our everyday life. Disastrous environmental conditions like droughts, floods, storms and wildfires not only take an enormous amount of human lives but also displace millions of people every year resulting in a huge humanitarian crisis. Infectious diseases and pandemics like covid-19 exploit the vulnerabilities in our health care systems and take a toll on human lives. 

Irregular migration of people from one place to another and from towns to urban centres also give birth to various issues that ultimately become challenges to the states' national security. Various criminal gangs and groups through crimes like smuggling of not only drugs but of people as well, create security threats to society.

How can we cope with these challenges?

With the passage of time people around the world become more and more vocal about the non-traditional security threats to humanity. Countries, organizations, activists, celebrities, students, etc., join hands in hands and speak about the issues and raise their voice against the organizations and countries that are contributing to the growing non-traditional threats. 
As there is a growing awareness among masses on one side while many public figures do not seem to be serious regarding the issue and are vocal against these campaigns labelling them as political moves. 

In a time when the global economy is already devastated by the pandemic and countries are struggling to survive and unemployment is at an all-time high, it is important for us to think in terms of sustainably developing our societies so that we could save the globe for our future generations. 

We need to set goals to at least restrict the global environmental conditions at the current levels, if not reverse them so that we can save ourselves from future disasters. We need to invest more of our money, time, skills and resources to develop a sustainable society.