Migration - EQ3 - 1.10 IGOs Managing Environmental Problems Flashcards
Define sustainability
- as a state whereby the needs of the present population can be met without comprising the ability of future generations to meet their need
Outline the global environmental problem which the montreal protocol addresses
- Launched by the UN in 1897, this international treaty stipulated that both the production and consumption of CFCs and ODs had to be phased out by 2000
Explain sustianability in context of this question - Evaluate the success of IGOs in managing global environmental problems (20)
The extent to which IGOs can be seen to successfully manage global environmental problems can be decided by how sustainable their actions are
weigh up whether IGOs or NGOs are more succesful at sorting out environment problems
- IGOs largely show high levels of success in targeting environmental issues, and this is also shown by NGOs,
- however, both types of organisations could display a greater level of success if campaigns were more ambitions, and equitably included low-income nations in these efforts
What were the successes of the montreal protocol
- the first global treaty to reach 197 signatories and achieve global ratification by 2009, displaying a strong level of commitment to protecting the Ozone
- success was equitable globally because funding ensured that low-income nations could access new aerosol substitutes, which ensured that this phasing out was virtually achieved by 2010
- also helped to decrease the threat of skin cancer, which would inadvertently support the environment by lessening the extraction of resources necessary to combat this disease
Limitations to the success of the montreal protocol
- because it took 10 years more than mandated to phase out ODs and CFCs
- the replacement chemicals, such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), have contributed to global warming
Despite limitations like 10 years and hydroflouro carbons, why was the omntreal protocol successful
- this unintended consequence led to further amendments, such as the Kigali Amendment in 2016, to address climate impacts,
which suggests that the Montreal Protocol was a pioneering step to managing the ozone layer
Oveerall how successful was the montreal protocol
- Overall, the Montreal Protocol is a highly successful effort by the UN to protect the ozone as it is exepcted the ozone layer will be fully recovered by 2070
- and a united effort has been shown to overcome economic barriers for LICs,
- and new technology has been harnessed to address setbaks in OG treaty
What are the 4 case studies for this essay
- Montreal Protocol
- CITES
- Helsinki
- Greenpeace (NGO)
What is CITES
Launched by the IUCN in 1963, CITES is a multilateral treaty that aims to ensure international trade does not endanger vulnerable species by ensuring legality, sustainability and traceability on animal goods
what is evidence to support CITES has been effective
- 35,000+ species have been protected under CITES,
- and 1 million certificates have been issued worth billion of dollars,
- So success is shown in vulnerable species are being largely protected from illegal trade
what are the limitations to CITES
- protection of species from illegal trade is difficult to manage as goods typically cross borders between countries which requires international cooperation and is expensive to monitor
- elephant ivory being banned under CITES, yet Nambia and Zimbabwe are actively trying to remove this ban, contradicting the proposals of 29 countries in Africa –> not substantial enough to mitigate national interests
- even though National Park’s have been funded under CITES - Nigeria Gorillas in Takamanda, deforestation for economic development means these increase the vulnerability of gorillas to Ebola Virus.
- This shows that the domiance of primary sector work in LIC nations means CITES is not effectively obliged to
Overall, how effective is CITES
- Therefore, while CITES have made progress to protect vulnerable species,
- unlike the Montreal Protocol, LIC nations have not been substantially economically supported to ensure that species are equitably supported,
- giving the potential for conflict to emerge
What is the Helsinki Wter Convention
- Since the 1960s, this UN treaty provides international guidelines, regulating the management of rivers and groundwater stores that cross national boundaries
- to ensure sustainable and equitable water management
What are the successes of the Helsinki Water Convention
- catalyst for sustainable water management agreements in the late 20th century, with 150 water treaties being signed including the Law of Non navigational uses of water courses, ensuing that water supplies were protected
- has also promoted better protection of estuarine ecosystems, like under the Rhine 2020 program
what are the limitations to the success of the Helsinki Water Convention
- there is no mechanism in place to enforce these guidelines with sanctions,
- which has meant that 37 transboundary water conflicts have occurred, hindering development
- Ethiopian Renaissance Dam opening,
- having negative downstream impacts on water availability in Egypt and Sudan,
- lack of sanctions could lead to disunity within nations
Overall how succesful are the Helsinki Wtaer Convention Rules
- has been successful in developing world with means to follow rules
butit could be more effective if the UN applied mandatory sanctions to uphold this as international law, as currently LIC nations are at risk of regional disunity and water scarcity, lowering their development
NGOs, such as …………………, have also show …… levels of success in protecting the….
- NGOs, such as Green Peace, have also show high levels of success in protecting the exploitation of oil reserves in the pristine artic
What have Green Peace done to protect the artic
- This was done by launching a promotional video encouraging Lego not to renew its contract with Royal Dutch Shell
how successful was green paeace’s attempst to protect the artic
- This encouraged over a million people to email Lego, and received 12 million views on YouTube, asserting significant pressure of this energy TNC such that lego did not renew its contract.
- Young children were also a part of this campaign by building giant lego animals outside Shell’s London HQ office,
- which shows that this NGO has laid the foundations for the artic to be protected by future generations
why is green peace’s efforts to protect the artic limited
- shell announced in 2015 it plans to drill into the Alaskan Artic, displaying that ‘brand-jacking’ did not have quite as significant protective impacts on TNCs
- the extent is limited - artic sea ice cover continues to decline reaching its lowest level on record of 6.15 miles sq in February 2023
overall how successful has green peace been
- Green Peace’s effort to protect the artic in the shot term have not been largely successful,
- however using children in this campaign has laid a foundation for future generations to protect the artic with a standing reputational stain on TNC shell
overall how succesful are IGOs at mitigating environmental problems sustainably
- On the whole, IGOs do sustainably manage the environment, as international treaties show significant successes in mitigating crucial environmental dangers,
- and in the long-term it is expected they well become more successful
What is the Antartica Treaty
What is the Millenium Ecosystem Agreement
What is UNCLOS
- It is an international agreement that establishes a legal framework for all marine and maritime activities
- It lays down a comprehensive regime of law and order in the world’s oceans and seas,
- addressing issues such as territorial sea with EEZs 200 nautical miles
- continental shelf, high seas, marine environment, marine scientific research, and dispute settlement
benefits of UNCLOS
- 157 countries have signed the agreement 1992
- considered a critical part of international system which UK is committed to
- coastal nations have protection over their resources
limitations of UNCLOS
- can cause tesnions between nations e.g south china sea
- can restrict countries acess to natural resources e.g oil –> energy security –> ecnomic devlopment + superpower status
What is the millenium ecosystem agreement
- The MEA (2001, 2005)assess the role ecosystems play in supporting human development through its role in providing:
- Food
- Cultural value
- Water
- Regulating climate etc.
- identified the policy responses that need to be addressed
- It aimed to provide a scientific basis for action to conserve and sustainably use ecosystems and their services
What has the millenium ecoystem assessment shown
- identified that humans have altered ecosystems more rapidly and extensively in the past 50 years than in any other period, resulting in both benefits and costs for people and nature
What is the limitation of the MEA
It identified ‘ecosystem services’ as a financial value, which strengthened the notion for preservation and fits into the capitalist western view of a global economic system, thereby, helping to promote its globally as worth conserving
however this is limited for developing nations to act upon
What is the Antartic Treaty System
The ATS is a set of agreements that regulate the international relations and activities in Antarctica, the only continent without a native human population
Established in 1959 by 12 countries that were active in Antarctic research during the International Geophysical Year of 1957-58
What does the Antartic Treaty System lay out
- No military action or equipment is allowed
- Main use is for scientific research
- No territorial claims can be made on the region
what are the pros of the Antratic Treaty System
- 53 countries have signed the agreement
- No exploitation of resources until 2041
- no terriotorial disputes
- no military activities have happened
what are the limitations of the antartic treaty convention
- Short-term – only until 2041
- Small number of countries that have signed
