Global environmental governance

Question 1

Why is global enviro governance a necessity?

Answer 1

• Global Tragedy of the Commons
• Global authority can put sanctions on states
• Centralised

Question 2

Why has there been no global intervention until now?

Answer 2

• Norm of Westphalian global order- non-intervention
• Can’t control other countries so turn a blind eye
• Rich Western states asked to fix problems from which they are greatly benefitting

Question 3

What was the significance of the United Nations Environmental Program 1972 Stockholm Summit?

Answer 3

• Birth of global enviro pol
• Established long-standing norms of how problems should be addressed
• More than 500 multilateral enviro agreements

Question 4

What is the theory of realism?

Answer 4

• Bleakest view on states and human nature
• Claim because system is anarchic 1) states can’t trust each other, 2) states can only survive by gaining power over each other
• Skeptical about Multilateral enviro agreements- think its more zero-sum power- if I can lock you into agreement that advantages me over you why wouldn’t I do that- states love to play this power game
• HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANCE OF POWER POLITICS
STATES TRYING TO MANIPULATE EACH OTHER AND GAIN WEALTH/ POWER

Question 5

What is the theory of liberal institutionalism?

Answer 5

• Anarchy doesn’t mean states can’t cooperate
• States always prefer to cooperate if possible
• Many states are positive-sum
• Rule-based forum means they can trust each other
• ENVIRO TIDE WILL BENEFIT ALL
• REGIMES= CREATE SYSTEMS OF RULES, TRUST, ORDER, COOPERATION

Question 6

What is the theory of constructivism?

Answer 6

• Libs and realists wrong because they are looking about material interest, but the world is shaped by ideas and norms
• Fluid, constructed, evolving norms
• States want to fit in w community of nation states
• NOTIONS OF ENVIRO AND ENVIRO CRISIS ARE CONSTRUCTED AND HAVE SHAPED THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT ENVIRO

Question 7

What is the theory of Marxism?

Answer 7

• Critical
• IR always reflective of the power of economic interests
• Transnational corporations exercise huge power over states and so states are compelled to act in their interests
• MEAS ONLY EVER BEEN SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE OF CAPACITY OF CERTAIN INTERESTS TO PROFIT FINANCIALLY FROM IT

Question 8

What are the 3 phases of regime development?

Answer 8

1. Agenda setting- initial framing of issue
2. Negotiation: creating rationale, govt meet
3. Regime strengthening- modifying obligations over time

Question 9

What constitutes an effective regime?

Answer 9

• Compliance
• Problem solving
• Disagreements

Question 10

Why have most MEAs failed?

Answer 10

• Declining political support- negotiations too removed from implementation at home
• Disagreements
• Lack of enforcement capacity

Question 11

What was the Montreal protocol on ozone?

Answer 11

• Most successful MEA
• Agenda setting- link between CFCs (chlorofluorocarbon) ad ozone depletion
• Negotiations- Grouped unlikely countries, US keen to as had already developed alternatives to CFCs so happy to sign
• Negotiations started in 86, signed in 87
• Regime strengthening- continued research into neg effects of CFCs consolidating decision

Question 12

What was the implementation issue inwiththe Montreal protocol on ozone?

Answer 12

• Developing states wanted developed to subsidise shift over- didn’t want to pay for problem they didn’t create
• Response was an eventual tech transfer in 1990

Question 13

What is the realist explanation for the Montreal protocol on ozone?

Answer 13

It was an example of power politics- only succeeded because of US involvement

Question 14

What is the liberal explanation for the Montreal protocol on ozone?

Answer 14

• States acknowledge danger of problem- benefits of cooperation outweighed costs
• States could trust each other thanks to good regime

Question 15

What is the constructivist explanation for the Montreal protocol on ozone?

Answer 15

• Ozone hole created moral and ethical impulse to act

Question 16

What is the Marxist explanation for the Montreal protocol on ozone?

Answer 16

• Powerful corporate interests
• Ensured profitable global markets
• Corporations compelled US state- so it signed for economic accumulation

Question 17

What happened in the Kyoto Protocol (97)?

Answer 17

• 80s- consensus climate change is real
• Legally binding targets
• Aus never signed

Question 18

What was the outcome of the Kyoto Protocol?

Answer 18

1. Divisions amongst developed countries
   • US (30% of world emissions) and Aus refuse to comply
2. North-South Divide
   • Devloping want to make sure growth isn’t impeded (China biggest)
   • Argue renewable tech should be freely provided to them
   • This time, unlike Montreal, West don’t fold
3. Economic implications
   • Magnitude of impact on economy of states made them reluctant
4. Disagreement over metrics
   • Metric determines winners/ losers
   • ie per capita emissions Aus worse than US
5. Relative inertia of renewables
   • Fossil fuel abundance/ low pices
6. Special interest lobbies
7. Politicisation of science

Question 19

What is the Marxist explanation for the success of Montreal but not Kyoto protocol?

Answer 19

Chemical vs carbon-based

Chemical- biggest player already had solutions, vs the lifeblood of global economy

Question 20

What is the Liberal explanation for the success of Montreal but not Kyoto protocol?

Answer 20

States couldn’t find common ground in climate change, but should have trusted each other like in ozone

Question 21

What is the Realist explanation for the success of Montreal but not Kyoto protocol?

Answer 21

Powerful states led ozone, where as here most powerful state didn’t want to sign and only did upon big concessions

Question 22

What is the Constructivist explanation for the success of Montreal but not Kyoto protocol?

Answer 22

Ozone uncontested scientific and public consensus, whereas climate change bigger concept to wrap mind around/ define/ agree upon