ECOLOGICAL SECURITY DIMENSIONS IN THE CLIMATE CHANGE ERA: STRATEGIES, FRAMEWORKS AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS FOR MOLDOVA AND THE EU NEIGHBOURHOOD

In an era of unprecedented climate change, ecological security has emerged as a critical dimension of human, national, and regional security. This paper examines the complex interplay between environmental degradation, climate variability, and socio-political vulnerabilities in Moldova and the broader EU neighborhood, with a focus on transboundary resource management and policy responses.Aim: By integrating scenario-based planning, adaptive governance frameworks, and ecological peacebuilding strategies, the study demonstrates how climate-induced ecological stress functions as a “threat multiplier,” exacerbating water scarcity, agricultural disruption, energy insecurity, and socio-political tensions. The Dniester River Basin case study exemplifies the urgent challenges of managing shared water resources under uncertain climate trajectories, highlighting the need for multi-level governance, predictive monitoring, and community engagement.Methodology: Comparative analyses of Moldova, Eastern Partnership countries, and EU member states reveal both governance gaps and opportunities for proactive, coordinated policy. The paper argues that effective ecological security requires not only technical solutions but a moral and strategic commitment to human well-being, social resilience, and regional cooperation.Discussions and results: Ultimately, it contends that the failure to integrate ecological considerations into national and regional security frameworks risks cascading crises, whereas anticipatory, collaborative, and human-centered strategies can transform vulnerability into resilience, forging a pathway toward sustainable peace and prosperity in the face of accelerating environmental change.