Environmental issues

Question 1

Current environmental issues

Answer 1

• Chernobyl nuclear disaster
  
  • meltdown of nuclear reactor in Chernobyl, Russia
  • accident had devastating effects on other nation states
• acid rain
  
  • generated by industrial activity – pollution in one state is spread to other nation states
• Deepwater Horizon
• hole in the ozone layer
• water scarcity
  
  • water withdrawal as a percentage of total available water has increased
  • especially, water scarcity in the Middle East has created an issue for international relations and security

Question 2

West’s institutional advantage in international system

Answer 2

• Ruckman (2017): SWIFT – financial institution forced by EU (Western institution) to cut Iran off in an attempt to force nuclear negotiations
• India’s scepticism of Western capitalism – neglect of poorer countries, impact of colonisation by Western countries
• Jake (2009): West as an exporter of greenhouse emissions: 40% of China’s energy consumption goes into producing exports for Western markets, source is multinational companies not domestic firms

Question 3

History of the environment as an international issue

Answer 3

• historically hasn’t been on the top of the agenda
• early 19^th century: Danube and Rhine Rivers in Europe cooperation over river pollution
• 1860s: world meteorological organisations have existed
• 1972: Stockholm, about human environment
• 1985: Vienna Convention, to tackle chloro-fluoro carbons
• 1987: Montreal Protocol
• 1992: Rio Earth Summit – main origins of multinational environmental organisations
• environmental issues now global threats

Question 4

Responses in the international context (environmental issues)

Answer 4

• human rights based approach
  
  • climate change is already undermining the realisation of a broad range of internationally protected human rights
  • primarily including rights to water, food, health and property and rights associated with livelihood, culture, migration and personal security
  • 2008: UN Human Rights Council resolution 7/23, recognised the particular vulnerability to the adverse effect of climate change of low lying and small island countries/countries with low lying coastal areas/areas liable to floods/droughts/desertification
  • human rights litigation involving climate change cases has only just started but the trend seems likely to grow
    
    • e.g. Inuit group filed case against US for degrading Artic, failure to curb greenhouse emissions, US rejected jurisdiction
• security approach
  
  • as environmental issues develop security characteristics, these issues will need to be resolved both in an environmental context and in a security context
  • e.g. water scarcity in the Middle East: underlying disputes and aggression ongoing in ME is competition for increasingly scarce resources
• economic approach: developing countries protecting local renewable energy industries
  
  • convergence of factors that will necessitate development of green technology
  • from a classic mercantilist perspective in international affairs – there is arguable a strategic advantage in developing a competitive edge in new technology
  • 1972 UN Conference Stockholm: led to formation of UN Environment program, contributed to rising awareness among governments of the environment
    
    • sustainable development: proposed concept now central to international environmental diplomacy which seeks to reconcile economic growth with environmental protection
• a non-state actor approach
  
  • various issues raised with piecemeal responses from different actors
  • corporate social responsibility: idea that corporations feel responsibility to benefit shareholders and society they operate in – promotes corporate image and sets standard/legacy of compliance to environmental laws

Question 5

consequences of a decline in US hegemony and the West’s institutional advantage – pessimism and optimism

Answer 5

• institutional architecture of the multilateral system is essentially a Western construct – scepticism from rising powers
• it arguably promotes Western preferences but has been shown to respond well to local domestic political input
• Copenhagen conference: highlighted there is a structural problem and a distributive problem
• China: Tesla reflects Chinese government more sympathetic to environmental considerations, promised to champion the Paris accord on climate change, President emphasis on contrasting China’s efforts to US’
• Australia: role as middle power in global politics of the environment, should have moral obligation to reduce impact on the climate e.g. will help island neighbours, reduce human rights violations
  
  • Adani coal mine contentions