Role of Non-State Actors Flashcards
the role of non-state actors in addressing and resolving environmental issues
NGOs, such as Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and the World Wildlife Fund, are non-state actors that seek to influence governments on wider social issues and have been active in pushing for more radical reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions
they frequently attend the annual UN climate change conferences and actively lobby state governments and international organisations on environmental issues
in particular, NGOs have played a significant role in promoting the environment as a global issue
CASE STUDY: Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth is an international network of environmental organisations that aims to promote environmental protection and sustainable development
the first branch was created in the UK in 1969, by a group of anti-nuclear activists
the international network was later created in 1971 by branches in the UK, Sweden, USA and France
there are now branches in 75 countries, with over 2 million members worldwide
one of its greatest achievements was getting recognition of the 1.5°C threshold in the Paris Climate Agreement
signatories to the agreement are committed to keeping the increase in the global mean temperature to below 2.0°C, but 1.5°C is the desired goal
CASE STUDY: the green movement
emerged in the 1970s as an international movement, in response to concerns about the effects of testing nuclear weapons and emerging evidence of the damaging effects of human activities on the environment
represents a range of organisations, from national to grassroots, private citizens, professionals, politicians, scientists and non-profit groups
it also includes other movements with a more specific focus, such as the climate movement
no formal membership, but millions of people are members of environmental pressure groups and political parties
followers of the green movement advocate sustainable management of the environment through changes in public policy and individual behaviour
the impact of the green movement has been to raise awareness of the damaging effects of humans on the environment and to increase the importance of the environment as a national and international political issue
CASE STUDY: Greenpeace
Greenpeace has played a pivotal role in….
- the adoption of a ban on toxic waste exports to less developed countries
- a moratorium on commercial whaling
- a United Nations convention providing for better management of world fisheries
- a 50-year moratorium on mineral exploitation in Antarctica
- bans on the dumping of radioactive and industrial waste and disused oil installations at sea
- an end to large-scale driftnet fishing on the high-seas
- the adoption of the Kyoto protocol
- a ban on all nuclear weapons testing
CASE STUDY: Amnesty International
what does this NGO focus on?
Deals with six key areas women’s children’s minorities and indigenous rights and in torture abolition of the death penalty protection of human dignity rights of refugees and the rights of prisoners of conscience
CASE STUDY: Amnesty International
examples of current cases
Jenni Monet — Amnesty international demand that charges be dropped against Monet, A journalist who was arrested while covering demonstrations against the Dakota access pipeline she was detained strip-searched and held for 30 hours
The Berks children Amnesty International is demanding US officials release the four children and their mothers who fly to the US to seek asylum from horrific violence and have been imprisoned for over 500 days instead of having full and fair hearings
CASE STUDY: Amnesty International
examples of current campaigns
To end the trade of goods produced in Israeli settlements which amnesty equals illegal and tainted by human rights abuses due to Israel’s harsh military rule and theft of Palestinian land
For Putin to investigate the deaths of two LGBT people who were tortured in Chechnya and ensure that anyone found guilty is brought to justice around 40 others have been detained in a government building for their alleged sexual orientation
For northern Irish women to have full access to free safe and legal abortion is Northern Ireland is the only place in the UK where women can face up to life in prison for abortion
other nonstate actors working to resolve climate change
there are many nonstate actors working to resolve climate change….
- city governments
- multinational corporations
city governments
Frequently where national governments or international agreements are slow to take action city governments can react far quicker
For example the London congestion charge introduced by Ken Livingstone after 2003 he proposed an 8 pound charge for all vehicles entering central London the result was a 13% reduction in greenhouse gases in the first year alone and public transportation use rose significantly
Milan Singapore and Stockholm have also now introduced similar congestion charge schemes
multinational corporations
While national government action is important multinational corporations are also beginning to offer more solutions to climate change by way of renewable energy technology
There is a rapidly expanding renewable energy industry and there are signs that the industry is becoming more innovative and competitive
Through corporate social responsibility funding company is devise project for charitable or social purposes e.g. Unilever has set up a sustainable living plan project which aims to reduce the companies own carbon footprint
