Global environmental governance Flashcards
Why is global enviro governance a necessity?
- Global Tragedy of the Commons
- Global authority can put sanctions on states
- Centralised
Why has there been no global intervention until now?
- 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
What was the significance of the United Nations Environmental Program 1972 Stockholm Summit?
- Birth of global enviro pol
- Established long-standing norms of how problems should be addressed
- More than 500 multilateral enviro agreements
What is the theory of realism?
• 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
What is the theory of liberal institutionalism?
- 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
What is the theory of constructivism?
- 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
What is the theory of Marxism?
- 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
What are the 3 phases of regime development?
- Agenda setting- initial framing of issue
- Negotiation: creating rationale, govt meet
- Regime strengthening- modifying obligations over time
What constitutes an effective regime?
- Compliance
- Problem solving
- Disagreements
Why have most MEAs failed?
- Declining political support- negotiations too removed from implementation at home
- Disagreements
- Lack of enforcement capacity
What was the Montreal protocol on ozone?
- 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
What was the implementation issue inwiththe Montreal protocol on ozone?
- 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
What is the realist explanation for the Montreal protocol on ozone?
It was an example of power politics- only succeeded because of US involvement
What is the liberal explanation for the Montreal protocol on ozone?
- States acknowledge danger of problem- benefits of cooperation outweighed costs
- States could trust each other thanks to good regime
What is the constructivist explanation for the Montreal protocol on ozone?
• Ozone hole created moral and ethical impulse to act
