global environmental problems

Post on 11-Feb-2016

95 Views

Category:

Documents

0 Downloads

Preview:

Click to see full reader

DESCRIPTION

Global Environmental Problems. International Environmental Politics. Environmental policy is about what government does and does not do to address environmental problems Environmental politics is the clash of values & interests that occurs in the course of formulating and implementing policy - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

TRANSCRIPT

17.32 Environmental Politics17.32 Environmental Politics 11

Global EnvironmentalGlobal EnvironmentalProblemsProblems

17.32 Environmental Politics17.32 Environmental Politics 22

International Environmental Politics• Environmental policy is about what government does and does not do to address environmental problems• Environmental politics is the clash of values & interests that occurs in the course of formulating and implementing policy• What does this suggest about international environmental politics and policy?

17.32 Environmental Politics17.32 Environmental Politics 33

“Third Generation” Issues•Global in Scale•Long-term in Scope•Significant Scientific Uncertainty•Large Economic Stakes•Complex Institutional Management

17.32 Environmental Politics17.32 Environmental Politics 44

Global Environmental Problems•Climate Change•Ozone Depletion•Biodiversity Loss•Ocean Exhaustion

17.32 Environmental Politics17.32 Environmental Politics 55

WHY NOT IMPOSE INTERNATIONALENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS?•Sovereignty•No Supra-National Authority

– U.N.– World Court

17.32 Environmental Politics17.32 Environmental Politics 66

Ozone, CFCs, and Montreal• Why was it possible to construct an international• regime to respond to Ozone Depletion

– Immediate scope and tangibility of the problem– Small set of CFC producers

• Industry interested in product change– Relatively Low Cost to Industry

• No net economic impact on states– Developed-Developing states rift healed by funding

17.32 Environmental Politics17.32 Environmental Politics 77

Global Climate Fluctuations

17.32 Environmental Politics17.32 Environmental Politics 88

Kyoto Treaty• Treaty Text• GHG Emissions Reductions

– 1990 target year– Industrial Countries = 5% reduction from 1990

• emissions levels by 2012• US = 7%• European Union = 8%• Japan = 6%• Emissions trading allowed

– Industrializing Countries = voluntary reductions

17.32 Environmental Politics17.32 Environmental Politics 99

US GHG “Problem”•90% of US GHG emissions = fossil fuel combustion•US reduction strategy must involve

– Energy efficiency/conservation– Removing subsides from fossil fuel extraction/production

•(~ $100 billion/year)– Develop alternative energy sources

17.32 Environmental Politics17.32 Environmental Politics 1010

Policy Problem•Convincing the government there is a problem•Devising an effective course of action•Getting other governments to do likewise

17.32 Environmental Politics17.32 Environmental Politics 1111

Bush CO2 PlanCO

2 M

T pe

r $

mill

ion

Year

17.32 Environmental Politics17.32 Environmental Politics 1212

Bush CO2 PlanCO

2 M

T pe

r $

mill

ion

Year

17.32 Environmental Politics17.32 Environmental Politics 1313

Bush CO2 Plan

Year

CO2

MT

Emis

sion

s

17.32 Environmental Politics17.32 Environmental Politics 1414

Biodiversity Loss•Continental-Scale Ecosystem Destruction

– Human Population Growth– Economic Development

•Mining, forestry, agriculture•Ebola virus killing off African primates

•Climate Change

17.32 Environmental Politics17.32 Environmental Politics 1515

Biodiversity Loss•Consumptive Use•Bio-Homogenization

– Economic Globalization– Alien Invasions

•Fungus decimating amphibian populations•West Nile Virus decimating bird populations

– Plus dozens of other species•Sudden Oak Death Syndrome•Wooly Adelgid

17.32 Environmental Politics17.32 Environmental Politics 1616

Ocean Exhaustion• Consumption

– Collapsing Fish Populations– “collateral damage

• Leatherback turtles• Pollution

– Eutrophication• Dying Coral reefs

– Toxins, Viruses, Bacteria• Sea otter decline

• Habitat destruction– Bottom trawling– Coastal wetlands

top related