What challenges do ecological concerns present to traditional theories of international relations?
The environmental challenges throughout the world are numerous and complex. Most governments and institutions now clearly realize that environmental issues are now directly related with other social/ cultural and socioeconomic issues. Promoting sustainable growth and assuring the protection of biodiversity on the planet is the only path forward for human survival.
Decades of environmental mismanagement have created a severe scenario that is affecting negatively all living beings on planet. The main environmental issues faced by humanity today are related to climate change, scarcity of recourses, unsustainable economic and social growth, pollution and depletion and exploitation of biodiversity.
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The use of cost-benefit analysis continues to be the preferred way of demonstrating this and of determining the value of environmental policy measures, despite the controversy surrounding its use and the way such assessments apportion value.” (Newell, P., 2008, page 523)
“Here the most obvious contradictions in the global politics of our times become very evident. The violence involved in trying to control the petroleum trade is in fact a violence to perpetuate the production of a substance that is a direct threat to the stability of the planet’s climate. Thus America is at war in the Middle East in part to protect an unsustainable global society; it is fighting to maintain a way of life that is imperilling all our futures.” (Dalby, S., 2009, page 61)
Another issue in the international level of sustainable development is that developing countries seem to be following the same unsustainable model of economic growth that developed countries have enjoyed despite the clear signs of the impact that this growth will further cause to the
Rachele Liba Professor Whitehead POSC 100 22 July 2016 Placing a Price on a Green Nation Having lived a nomadic lifestyle across the United States, I have had the opportunity to witness the wonders of our flourishing society and the everyday turmoils that we face. Rigorous innovation has helped Americans fulfill countless dreams, however with every gift there is a usually a price-tag or opportunity cost. Now in the midst of the general presidential election, platforms that represent our beliefs can undergo much needed reform to address the opportunity costs that were surpassed in the process of success. Among the various problems found in our society, a key movement that has raised necessary controversy has to do with environmental policy.
In order to overcome these problems of overusing oil and resources, there has to be balance and good judgement. Although, to have good judgement, there has to be sound government contracts that are favorable to the good of the people and not only the economy. Overall Eisenhower 's “Farewell Address” speech, and Pollan’s novel, “The Omnivore 's Dilemma” foreshadow and demonstrate conflicts that cause danger to our nation. In the future, as technology advances so will our knowledge. Hopefully, our knowledge will be used to create optimism instead of depression and cures instead of
McKibben suggests there is inefficient spending and mechanisms by individual consumers. For example, a lots carbon emissions and sewage caused by individual consumers is the result of their inability to use the latest technology. Also, consumers’ inability to respect the regulations of the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act contributes to environmental pollution. He supports this idea by saying “Our wasteful habits wouldn’t matter much if there were just few of us” (559). On the other hand Jensen argues by saying prejudicing powerless individuals instead of those who actually attain influential power in the system of government and policy making is one of the problems to mitigate environmental pollution.
Everyone wants something in their life. A new phone, new clothes, jewelry, toys, and other luxuries. But did you realize the price tag does not show the full price? “Saving The Worlds”, and “The Race to Save the Elephants” by Mary Kate Frank believes that because of our negligence and cupidity, animals and environments are the ones actually paying for your decisions. Mankind are incessantly ruining their lives by obliterating their habitats, overfishing, poaching, producing pollution, and other nefarious methods.
The concept of environmental justice was first introduced in South Africa at the Earthlife 1992 conference (Cock 2004, p.6). Defined as the ‘fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies’ (U.S Environment Protection Agency, 2012), environmental justice aims to shift the world towards environmentally friendly development and eradicate exploitation of natural resources and indigenous communities. Most importantly, it deals mainly with the environmental injustices of these relationships, and the ways and means of rectifying these wrongs and/or avoiding them in the future
This essay will begin by looking at definition of key terms used in this essay, followed by the concept of risk society and features of “risk society thesis” as constructed by Beck which has been an extensive frameworks discussed in environmental management. The essay will also tackle the current phenomenal manifestation of ‘risk’ and ‘globalization’ being “bedfellows” as consequences of modernization and has no boundaries. The essay will conclude by comparing developing and developed countries to see whether the
It is here contradictions emerged how best to prevent future environmental harms. Progressive-era conservationists concerned with protecting the nation’s public lands, in contrast, New Deal reformers advocated agricultural reform but focused on privately owned lands (Dunaway, 2005; Jacoby, 2001). They looked to past civilizations to better understand how to avoid ecological ruin such as flood control, soil erosion, and farming techniques. Even today, politicians and many in society are
Biodiversity is all life on the planet. How much life is out there, however, is still quite unclear and by this time, possibly many new species may find out. Appraise of around a range from 2 million to 100 million species, with only about 1.4 million are named at this current time. The attainable diversity of uncharacterized species is very much frustrating, visualizes how many species are here and others are still missing or unrecognized. However, now days where globalization intercepts species have begun to dissolve at a very alarming and devastating rate.
Constructivists reject such a one-sided material focus. They argue that the most important aspect of international relations is social, not material. Constructivists have demonstrated that ‘ideas matter’ in international relations. They have shown that culture and identity help define the interests and constitute the actors in IR. All students of IR should be familiar with the important debates raised by constructivists, about basic social theory and about the different ways in which ideas can matter in international relations.
Ever since Garrett Hardin’s publishing of the Tragedy of Commons in 1968, it has been used extensively to understand environmental problems. The tragedy of the commons can be defined as when individuals acting in rational self interest seek to maximize the benefit of Earth’s resources as fast as they can and in doing so, lack an incentive to conserve and regulate these resources (Olive, 2016). This concept can be seen in the 2014 film Damnation by Travis Rummel and Ben Knight. Below, it is shown how the dams in the movie exemplify key characteristics of a commons, why problems of the dams are hard to overcome and how these problems can be solved. By examining the dams shown in the film, it is evident that the problem of the dams is an accurate example of the tragedy of the commons.
Review of Literature Environmental issues began to be discussed and debated only towards the end of the 20th century. Since then significant amount of literature has been penned down raising awareness about issues of pollution, deforestation, animal rights and several others however it has failed to result in major changes, ideas or even actions to save the environment. Several species of animals have become extinct; pollution level is at an all-time high, global warming is leading to severe climate changes all across the globe but these problems do not seem to alarm the decision makers. Leydier & Martin (2013) also states that, “despite the increasing expression of concern in political and media debates about issues such as climate change, pollution and threats to biodiversity, “political ecology” (operating at the confluence of scientific developments, political engagement and ethical debates) is still trying to find its bearings” (p.7). It is quite evident that environmental issues are not treated in equivalence to political, economic, social or even religious issues.
And one of the old solutions for this concern is to increase number of cultivation lands and exploit new fish stocks. But the competition for land from other human activities makes this an increasingly unlikely and costly solution .for example food producers are experiencing grater rivalry for land, water energy and the need to curb the many negative effects of food production on the environment becoming increasingly clear (Tilman et al. ,2001;
Introduction: Our earth is the most precious gift of the universe. It is the sustenance of ‘nature’ that is the key to the development of the future of mankind. It is the duty and responsibility of each one of us to protect nature. It is here that the understanding of the ‘environment’ comes into the picture. The degradation of our environment is linked with the development process and the ignorance of people about retaining the ecological balance.
According to the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) “A green economy is one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. In its simplest expression, a green economy can be thought of as one, which is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive. ” This states that green economies are not based on demand for sacrifice, but on the idea of qualitative growth, where low-carbon and environment friendly technologies are utilized as well as international cooperation plays a key
According to www.conserve-energy-future.com, the first factor causing environmental degradation is overpopulation. Rinkesh, World’s Top Eco-Conscious Bloggers and website owner, stated that overpopulation leads to excessive consumption of goods and necessities which impacts natural resources. This is because more people demand more food, clothes, shelter and fuel. Because of this demand, their living space needs to be expanded in order to grow food and provide homes for people.