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Global Environment (Lectures Notes (It potentially threatens the…
Global Environment
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Reading
Peter Singer (2010)
Singer’s ( 2010) main argument is that countries should not be punished for their greenhouse emissions, merely persuaded to reduce their emissions, all in all Singer calls for fairness in both developed countries and developing countries.
Singer begins this chapter by underlining the problems that will come with global warming. He mentions rising temperatures and rising sea levels, increasing outbreaks tropical diseases, hurricanes and storms. He points out that in some regions urban areas and also food production will rise while in regions like those bordering the Sahara it will fall
Singer talks about the Kyoto Protocol in which 39 developed countries were supposed to reduce their greenhouse emissions. The Kyoto Protocol also allowed emission trading where
one country could buy emissions quota from another country. Yet Singer highlights that during the Kyoto conference the USA was watching from the ‘side-lines’ and refused to agree with the Protocol. Australia followed suit
He states further on that the Kyoto Protocol would have actually benefited America and Australia. Yet the USA and Australia argue that the protocol makes them sacrifice more than they should, demanding instead that the poorer nations have a smaller allowable quota of greenhouse gas emissions. In effect this would condemn these nations to restricted economic development and bar them from the rich nations’ club.
Anthony Giddens (2009)
He begins this chapter by discussing the disadvantages of climate change, the gradual reduction of resources, which can lead to conflict.
Giddens states that instead of nations focusing on reaching the goal of reducing emissions, it could turn into competition to gain these sparse resources.
Giddens further points out that leaders of states can use climate change as a power tool. He raises the prospect of countries badly affected by climate change and weakened being attacked by their neighbours to gain scarce resources, or politicians using internal crisis caused by climate change in power bids.
Gidden then leads on to the importance of International communities. He disagrees with Condaleeza Rice’s idea that international communities are illusionary and Kagan who repeats the same idea. Instead Gidden states that international communities, primarily the UN, helps further the progression of the world’s interdependence. He argues that failures of the UN such as ethnic cleansing in Bosnia or the Rwanda genocide get more attention than the UN’s successes, and thus paints the UN in a bad light
Whereas Gidden maintains that the way to solve climate change or greenhouse emissions is through interdependency and that is why the UN plays the vital role in helping countries work together
This then leads to Gidden’s solution. He states that the USA and China should join together to combat climate change. Gidden feels this will be effective as they are the leaders of the developed and developing worlds. They can influence the whole world
Giddens gives an example of Chinese state controlled ‘China Mobile ‘have joined a non- profit Climate Group to reduce energy use, this non-profit group is backed by western companies proving that China seems to understand the importance of Climate change and the idea of working together.
Roberts J. t ET AL
resource extraction or to the externalities imposed by pollution and other activities’ (25). Thus arguing that before the Stockholm summit, states would extract raw resources and burn fossil fuels whilst negating and ignoring the realistic impact these had on the Earth as a reliable home for humanity.
The debate Roberts addresses includes the claim that economic globalisation, whilst beneficial for economies around the world, has only increased the rate at which the environment has degraded (26). In addition to this he argues that states must come to realise that environmental issues know no border, they are transnational, and if not confronted they will spread to harm every state on the Earth
He correctly manages to support his argument by claiming that the states of the global South proposed such an ideal not to help the environment, but alternately to ensure the poorer states didn’t have to suffer to a greater degree just so the environment could benefit. Although arguably this could be seen a form of state egoism as ultimately the environment is far more important than a state’s financial growth (as both rely on one another).
Kutting (2011)
discusses the importance of the relationship between environment and security, whilst pushing forward the argument that the word ‘security’ should include protection from environmental degradation.
Kutting first forwards the arguments of ‘non-traditionalists’ who argue security should be re-defined so it includes reference to the environment, rather than referring to physical protection alone. They argue that a degrading environment can lead to a lack of resources which can affect our well-being and contribute to intrastate and even interstate conflict over these resources
Kutting then outlines the opposing argument of ‘traditionalists’ which assert that security is merely the study of threat and the military forces. If every force that threatens our lives and environment is seen as a threat to security, the term will not mean anything at all. They argue that there is no proven correlation with environmental degradation and conflict, as other social and political factors certainly contribute.
Kutting then explains how cooperation however would resolve these tensions and advance security. However, in order for cooperation to be effective, we must understand how differences amongst different nations can influence their relations. Kutting explains that economic differences for example can influence the relationship between nations as poorer countries may not see the environment as a top national priority, as opposed to richer countries as the former have far more severe issues they need to address. Such variables must be considered and addressed when attempting to build upon relations with another country, in the name of environmental security.
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