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Environmental Policy: Decision Making And Problem Solving

International Environmental Policy

AP Environmental Science

Mr. Grant

Lesson 12

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Objectives:

• Define the term World Trade Organization (WTO).

• List the institutions involved with international environmental policy and describe how nations handle transboundary issues.

• TED - Can the interests of an individual nation be reconciled with humanity's greater good? Can a patriotic, nationally elected politician really give people in other countries equal consideration? Following his TED talk calling for a global ethic, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown fields questions from TED Curator Chris Anderson.

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Define the term World Trade Organization (WTO).

• World Trade Organization (WTO) - Organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, that represents multinational corporations and promotes free trade by reducing obstacles to international commerce and enforcing fairness among nations in trading practices.

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List the institutions involved with international environmental policy and describe how nations handle transboundary issues.

Many environmental problems cross political boundaries and thus must be addressed internationally.

• Environmental problems are not restricted by national borders

International policy includes customary law (law by shared traditional custom) and conventional law (law by treaty).

• Customary law = practices or customs held by most cultures

• Conventional law = from conventions or treaties

- Montreal Protocol = nations agreed to reduce ozone-depleting chemicals

- Kyoto Protocol = reduces fossil fuel emissions causing climate change

• Nations can also make progress through multilateral agreements, hard work, and diplomacy

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List the institutions involved with international environmental policy and describe how nations handle transboundary issues.

Institutions such as the United Nations, European Union, World Bank, World Trade Organization, and nongovernmental organizations all shape international policy. • International organizations influence nations through funding, peer

pressure, and media attention

• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

- Helps nations understand and solve environmental problems

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List the institutions involved with international environmental policy and describe how nations handle transboundary issues.

• The World Bank = one of the world’s largest funding sources for economic development

- Dams, irrigation, infrastructure

- Funds unsustainable, environmentally damaging projects

• The European Union (EU) seeks to promote Europe’s unity, economic and social progress

- Can sign binding treaties and enact regulations

- Can also issue advisory directives

- Sees environmental regulations as barriers to trade

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List the institutions involved with international environmental policy and describe how nations handle transboundary issues.

• The World Trade Organization (WTO)- Represents multinational corporations

- Promotes free trade

• Can impose penalties on nations that don’t comply with its directives

• Interprets environmental laws as unfair barriers to trade- Brazil and Venezuela filed a complaint against U.S. regulations

requiring cleaner-burning fuel

- The WTO agreed with Brazil and Venezuela, despite threats to human health

• Critics charge the WTO aggravates environmental problems

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List the institutions involved with international environmental policy and describe how nations handle transboundary issues.

• Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) = entities that influence international policy

• ENGOs (environmental NGOs) = groups advocating for environmental protection

- Some do not get politically involved

- Others try to shape policy through research, education, lobbying, or protest

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List the institutions involved with international environmental policy and describe how nations handle transboundary issues.

• International institutions weld influence

• Globalization is making our world more interconnected

- Societies and ecosystems are being changed at unprecedented rates

• Trade and technology allow increased consumption

- Consumptive nations exert incredible impacts

• Multinational corporations operate outside the reach of national laws

- They don’t have the incentive to conserve resources or act sustainably

• Organizations and institutions that shape policy are vital

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TED Video

Gordon Brown on global ethic vs. national interest (17:10)

Britain's former prime minister Gordon Brown played a key role in shaping the G20 nations' response to the world's financial crisis, and was a powerful advocate for a coordinated global response to problems such as climate change, poverty and social justice.

Can the interests of an individual nation be reconciled with humanity's greater good? Can a patriotic, nationally elected politician really give people in other countries equal consideration?