Why are international environmental problems hard to solve?

Question 1

What are 7 main problems when faced with international environment problems?

(P.L.E.A.S.E C)

Answer 1

1. Politics
2. Law
3. Economics
4. Assumptions (traditional management beliefs)
5. Scientific views
6. ‘Ecosystems’ thinking
7. Culture

Question 2

How does a State’s political will present a problem for international environmental issues?

Answer 2

Politics

• Not going to get any changes without political will
• Even more important in international law; no country is going to sign up to a treaty unless it is politically palatable

Question 3

Can enacting a law solve an international environmental problem?

Answer 3

It’s not that simple

It may help, but not simply in itself; there are too many interconnected problems

Question 4

How can the state of a State’s economy be an issue for international environmental problems?

Answer 4

State’s (or people) will only do something if it is economically viable (economic incentives)

Think Poaching: it might be unlawful, but it is economic to some

Question 5

What are 4 common (misguided) assumptions to the environment and natural world that have guided environmental management beliefs in the past?

(L.E.R.C) (think: assumptions ‘lurking’ in the background)

Answer 5

1. Environmental degradation is LINEAR
   - I.e. the environment will change in proportion to the amount of pollutant that is introduced
2. Nature seeks a natural EQUILIBRIUM, and once in equilibrium, it would not change dramatically
3. Nature will always be able to RECOVER from the interference of humans back to the equilibrium state
4. When managing natural resources, it’s easy to predict the impact of decisions by assuming CONSTANT environmental conditions

• Point: these^ are pretty much all wrong- we will always be in a state of uncertainty
• CF: The ‘new approach’ to nature is that

Question 6

What is the ‘new approach’ to assumptions?

Answer 6

Pretty much all the previous assumptions have been proven wrong.

Now it is commonly believed that we will always be in a state of uncertainty as to how the environment will respond

The new approach to nature: there will usually be unforeseen consequences, and that nature won’t simply bounce back
(e.g regulations re Kenya elephants/ Maine cod)

Question 7

How does scientific views work for and against international environmental problems?

Answer 7

NB: scientific views are inherently uncertain

For:
-Need to match law to scientific realities.

Against:
-So if science is uncertain, then it will be much harder to get an agreement

Question 8

How might divergent cultures affect international environmental problems? And what is a good example of this?

Answer 8

• E.g. Whaling in Japan

- Japan sees itself as a political imperialism. They are not easily going to accept that their whaling should cease

Question 9

Describe what is involved with ‘collective action problems’?

And what is an example of this?

Answer 9

Situations where to achieve a certain result, you need cooperation of all actors involved

E.g. climate change:

• If only half of the world cooperate and reduce carbon emissions, but the other half decides not, then it simply won’t work
• Free-riding – getting a benefit without taking any costs

Question 10

Describe what is involved with ‘(perceived) lack of perceived legitimacy’ problems?
And what is an example of this?

Answer 10

E.g. the Security Council – some perceive it to lack any real legitimacy as the five permanent member States have a power of veto over any decision

Question 11

Describe what is involved with ‘lack of domestic capacity’ problems?
And what is an example of this?

Answer 11

Failure of either technical resources, or experts in the area to implement the required actions under the treaty.

E.g, while NZ has a large(ish) Ministry for the Environment, and so has the ability to implement actions, other smaller Nation States are too small to implement obligations.