Examines an important new debate over the impact of environmental issues on security in Pacific Asia, and asks whether pollution, population growth and scarcity of 'renewable' resources - fish and forests, for example - can cause conflict. Environmentalists believe that these issues can drive conflict; 'traditionalists' remain sceptical. The main conclusion of this paper is that, while environmentalists clearly exaggerate their case, environmental degradation is set to become a significant underlying cause of conflict in Pacific Asia in years to come.