Summary Essentials of International Relations by Mingst and McKibben Chapter 11
Interrelation of environmental issues using 2 conceptual approaches:
- Collective goods, shared benefits to overcome conflicting individual interests.
Reassess our individual choices and interest because planet’s resources are not
infinite.
- Sustainability, advance our survival without doing lasting damage to environment.
Free riders behavior on environment policies is difficult to monitor.
The environment as an issue in international relations
Since 1800’s organizations to preserve species and environmental concerns, not until 50’s
that environment emerged as issue on international agenda. More people aware that
human activity were degrading natural world (negative externalities), thanks to book about
dangers of pesticide.
Institutionalizing environmental protection
Soft law about principles regarding environment began developing following warnings.
States should avoid acts that cause foreseeable harm to neighboring states and states
cannot initiate policies that cause environmental damage to another state. These are among
other principles that are also not legally binding. New international bodies are formed and
older groups take new environmental agenda’s. GEF helps low to middle income countries
reach certain environmental objectives by funding. World bank biggest financial provider,
criticised for environmental degradation projects now assessment for damage to
environment. But truly green or just greenwashed?
NAFTA first agreement more environmental friendlier than others, environmental issues on
border US-Mexico. So new agreement USMCA. NGO’s still think agreement doesn’t cover
enough environmental issue’s.
Global South argues most environmental issues are caused by industrialization by Global
North. North should pay for cleanup and development of South cannot suffer. This
disagreement leads to inaction.
IGO’s pretty weak to combat problems, NGO’s act as international critics. They use the
media to highlight problems and dissatisfaction. They aid in monitoring and pointing out
problems. NGO’s part of epistemic community: sharing expertise, notions of validity and
practices to solve problem. NGO’s tries to influence state policy directly, providing options,
initiating legal procedures and lobby a bureaucracy or legislature.
, Climate change
Ozone depletion issue arose in 1975, powerful state recognized problem global emissions of
CFC became concentrated in polar regions, led to thinning of ozone layer. North
acknowledged primary responsibility and states prohibited use of CFC. Success story, since
then use of ozone depleting substances decrease with 75%, ozone layer recovering.
Problem of climate change
Climate change different than ozone layer. No inexpensive substitutes for agricultural,
communications and industrial processes. Cost of reducing emissions high while benefits
take decades to emerge. Greenhouse emissions by all parts of the world particularly China:
95% certainty in scientific community that climate change is influenced by human behavior,
major cause of greenhouse gas pollution is carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel
industry. 45% decrease in cb emission in 2030 and net zero in 2050 to combat projected
increase of 2-3 degrees Celsius by end of 21st century, shooting for below 1.5 degrees. In
Siberia permafrost has melted, dry hot summers affecting air quality because of forest fires
in Russia and in Australia the warming of the sea has disturbed aquatic life. Small island
states see territory shrinking and higher rates of waterborn diseases.
Politicians and economists struggle to find solutions in the competing interest of economic
growth and reducing greenhouse emissions.
Approaches to climate change mitigation
Policies that reduce greenhouse has emissions and enhance carbon sinks: Kyoto protocol
one of the efforts. Japan and EU signed but US thought cost of job loss resulting from cuts of
emission to high. India and China were developing countries so not required to make cuts.
US thought that was unfair.
2013 new talks from biggest emission countries. US, India and China. This laid the basis of
Paris agreement: abandoning fossil fuels by 2050 and supporting growth of renewable
energy and publish climate plans every 5 years to ensure transparency. 100 billion fund for
developing countries was made available. States all responsible and set own goals, doesn’t
solve climate change but good structure to tackle the problem. Trump pulled back from
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