2025/11/01 by Nan Tian, Liang Xiao · 2 voices
paper · doi:10.55163/zcie5196
openalex publication_date 2025/11/01 · openalex created_date 2025/11/07 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/11
Amid a deteriorating global security environment, world military expenditure reached US2.7 trillion in 2024. This surge coincided with faltering progress on reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A state’s spending on the military can have substantial adverse impacts on its sustainable development through channels ranging from diverting resources from social expenditure, slowing economic growth, increasing inequality and contributing to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions. To address these diverging trends and their consequences, the United Nations needs to revitalize its disarmament machinery to debate military spending’s impact on development. States should adopt a human-centred approach to security—that is, a balance between empowerment, protection and solidarity of people—that upholds commitments to development— both domestic and overseas— and the security of the state. In addition, civil society should mobilize public debate to advocate for a human-centred security that prioritizes sustainable development.