environment Flashcards
What was created in 1972
United nations environment programme
why was the significance of the 1992 UN conference on environment and development (UNCED)
it reflected idea of sustainable development and an accommodation between the environmental concerns of developed states and economic demands of the south
When were the next UN environmental conferences after the UNCED (1992)
2002-World Summit on Sustainable Development. Shift from reduction of waste to recognition of importance of globalization and of the dire state of Africa
-Rio+20 meeting in 2012, little attention but did resolve sustainable development goals for the future
What was significant about the progress of the UN conferences?
marked the stages by which the environment entered the international political mainstream, they also reflected underlying changes in the scope and perception of environmental problems.
International environment relies on ____
shared scientific information. shown in bodies like WMO and for climate change IPCC
what is the tragedy of the commons
where there is unrestricted access to a resource that is owned by no one, there will be an incentive for individuals to use as much as they can but if the resource is finite there will be a time where it is ruined by over-exploitation as short run interest outweigh the collective interest in sustaining the resource
four examples of the tragedy of the commons in relation to the environment
fish and whale stocks of high seas have been over exploited to the point where species are almost wiped out.
Ocean based environment has been polluted by land based oil.
Been a struggle to maintain wilderness of Antarctica.
Global atmosphere has been degraded through damage to the stratospheric ozone layer and by the enhanced greenhouse gases
Why does Hardin’s (1968) solution prove problematic in relation to environmental issues
He suggested privatisation or nationalisation but this is physically and politically impossible . International cooperation is the function of a central world government
what is the ‘freerider’? and why does this pose a problem for enforcement?
taking more than their fair share of the resources. some parties will see no reason to restrain themselves. Example of trying to implement climate regimes
What was 1987 Montreal protocol and what did it succeed in doing?
imposed international control over ozone-depleting chemicals
After scientific knowledge was shared on the danger of CFC’s to the ozone layer, an agreement was made so they were progressively phased out. a fund was also set up for developing countries to finance alternative CFC’s
why was the montreal protocol effective?
the problems causes were isolated, international support was mobilized and action was taken to ensure that developing countries participated and the rules and procedures that were developed were effective.
three facts on global warming
- Before industrial revolution carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere was about 280 parts per million but In 2011 that had rose to about 391ppm.
- International consensus states that global mean temperatures shouldn’t increase more than 2oc to avoid dangerous climate change.
- IPCC predicts it will increase between 2.4-6.4oc by 2099.
key features of the kyoto protocol
committed developed countries (ANNEX 1) , but excluded developing countries like BASIC to make an average of 5.2% cut in their greenhouse gases from a 1990 by 2012.
Each had individual targets like EU to reduce by 8% and US by 7%.
By 2012, EU only signatory still committed to its protocol.
Instead of controlling a single set of industrial gases like Montreal protocol had, it aimed to reduce greenhouse gases which involve energy, transport and agriculture- fundamentals in modern society.
problems with the kyoto protocol
some of the world’s largest emitters are developing countries for example, china is the biggest producer of co2
-USA pulled out in 2001. As USA produce ¼ of global co2 emissions, this has made the control of climate change hard. The USA’s lack of involvement affects the willingness of other countries, especially the developing south.
Features of copenhagen 2009
BASIC (brazil, south Africa, India, China) and other developing countries all called for the retention of Kyoto and development aid to assist with adaptation. Developed countries backed away. Accord made was weak. annex countries make commitmment by 2020
