Global Environmental Problems
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Transcript of Global Environmental Problems
17.32 Environmental Politics17.32 Environmental Politics 11
Global EnvironmentalGlobal EnvironmentalProblemsProblems
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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?
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“Third Generation” Issues•Global in Scale•Long-term in Scope•Significant Scientific Uncertainty•Large Economic Stakes•Complex Institutional Management
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Global Environmental Problems•Climate Change•Ozone Depletion•Biodiversity Loss•Ocean Exhaustion
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WHY NOT IMPOSE INTERNATIONALENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS?•Sovereignty•No Supra-National Authority
– U.N.– World Court
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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
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Global Climate Fluctuations
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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
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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
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Policy Problem•Convincing the government there is a problem•Devising an effective course of action•Getting other governments to do likewise
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Bush CO2 PlanCO
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Biodiversity Loss•Continental-Scale Ecosystem Destruction
– Human Population Growth– Economic Development
•Mining, forestry, agriculture•Ebola virus killing off African primates
•Climate Change
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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
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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