What is environmental global governance?

Question 1

What is global governance?

Answer 1

• The process in which states cooperate with each other and NGOs to resolve collective dilemnas like climate change (leads to rising sea levels, high temperature and pollution).
• Each contributes in some way as all affected and can have an impact -based on international standards and laws all must follow.

Question 2

In order to enforce or bring about change, what will states need?

Answer 2

+ A framework (based on science).
+ A forum
+ International Laws and treaties

Question 3

Tragedy of the Commons

Answer 3

The challenge that in an international system dominated by national self-interest and competition of economic power and natural resources, states will attempt to use the global commons to advance their own interest, rather than collaborate to protect the shared resources and environment.

Question 4

Garret Hardin (1968)

Answer 4

Stated that mankind’s greed was depleting the resources of the commons.

Question 5

What are two views on how to tackle environmental issues?

Short answer definition

Answer 5

+ Shallow green = reformists that argue the environment requires protection to ensure that humans prosper and survive - pragmatic, human-centered approach.

+ Deep green = based on the principle that all life on earth is essential, so humans have a duty to not exploit the environment - must take radical steps to limit humanity’s impact.

Question 6

Shallow green ecology

Table points

Answer 6

• Accepts that human’s actions are responsible, the need for sustainable development AND keeping rising global temps to a minimum, so the existence and prosperity of the future generations aren’t threatened but there is no commitment to protecting the wider biosphere.
• Believes the govts/individuals can resolve the problem within captialist structures and it’s achievable successfully w/o fundamental changes to lifestyles.
• Done by govts committing to renewable energy rather than fossil fuels, charging for plastic bags and introducing congestion zones in big cities (ULEZ in London, UK) and individuals eating less meat and dairy products, flying less.

Question 7

Deep green ecology

Answer 7

• As part of the biosphere, humans are responsible for protecting it because of CC’s harmful impact out of duty and reverence of the planet = demands a paradigm change in how humans relate to the planet.
• Capitalism has exploited the planet - ought to not use it for a material advantage. Instead, we must become eco-literate so we learn the good of the planet first.
• Sees existing attempts to reduce carbon emissions as fundamentally flawed - based on a human-centric desire to survive, rather than a geniune engagement with the biosphere’s needs.

Question 8

What is sustainable development?

Answer 8

• Principle that development musn’t be allowed to irreparably damage the environment for future generations.
• Not measured economically but it must take into account the impact of GOVT/individual’s actions.
• Important for reducing poverty and a major focus with the (SDGs) in 2015, replacing the largely successful (MDGs) which provides a framework of meaningful assisstance for states to achieve their goals.

Question 9

Key areas of support provided by the SDGs

Answer 9

+ Science for decision making = provides funding and training for research with states - helps build a knowledge base of information and science on the extent of CC and its impact.
+ Low carbon tech = works together to bring stakeholders to help link govt needs and societies with a private sector that develops cleaner energy tech.
+ Education and training = funded schools and universities as a way of driving economic and social change - able to carry out accurate assessments of the impact of pollution/economic activity.
+ Data and info = UN helps by advising states on how they can use population surveys to measure the impact of CC on e.g migration.

Question 10

Issue of state sovereignity on tackling the environment

Answer 10

• Nation-states place their own interests before humanity which exhausts the planet.
• Unwilling to commit because they don’t wish to fall behind other states economically (looses short term) as it restricts their economic growth.
• E.g. India has considered buying subsidised Russian oil because of the West placing economic sanctions on Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.