finalised EEP exam 1

Main themes of conservative Party environmentalism

• commitment to tradition

• appreciation of limits

• attachment to countryside

• stewardship, and obligation to future

French environmentalism

radicalism and protests, showcasing a revolutionary spirit, failure to bridge the gap between pragmatics and idealists.

German environmentalism

environmental issues, institutionalised, and politicise stable environmental movements.

UK environmentalism

Low-key non-confrontational approach influenced by cultural conservation structures of UK government, party systems limit small parties like the Greens, a side-effect of the national trust is that preserving manners and gardens helps the environment. not radical like German or French greens.

elements of french environmentalism

• structural parties in groups, Les Verts generation ecologie

• societal, political and civill

Vanoise Affair

protests against ski resort expansion in National Park this was the birth of modern environmental movement in France

Larzac

former protest against expansion of military base, show power of social movement against governmental policy

feed-in Tariffs

policy encouraging, renewable energy production by paying producers and providing market certainty, boosting adoption of renewables, guaranteed above market prices reduce financial risk. It's a safety net and it's incentivising adaptation, and an example of this is in Germany

Wilderness - Cronon

the Sublime romanticism of untouched nature, European thought, the frontier American freedom and escape nature, or something out there, rather than a part of immediate surrounding

Paterson form of questions determines scope of answer

“What is the possibility of states collaborating…” This is problematic because it assumes states are the only ones to solve issues. This reduces the ability of institution and corporations.

Paterson applied critical approach

Cars symbolise and reflect capital accumulation, success and freedom and social inequalities.

Meat is a symbol of freedom. Modern energy and consumption are tied to economic and cultural power structures.

Society demands and wants these items.

Decoupling

Decreasing carbon emissions whilsts GDP and economic prosperity rise or remain stable environment versus the economy debate zero sum game. For example, Germanies, large-scale transition to renewables allowed them to rely less on nonrenewables, reduce greenhouse gases and increase profits.

Attitudes towards nuclear energy (Germany)

Strongly anti-nuclear after Fukushima triggered nuclear phase brought upon by out public pressures and greens influence. Replaced all nuclear with renewables and non-renewables

Attitudes towards nuclear energy (France)

pro nuclear stance crucial for energy independence from Oil traders and crucial for weapon independence from NATO. Nuclear energy provides over 70% of electricity in France, tied to national prestige and independent nuclear weapons program.

Attitudes towards nuclear energy (UK)

Focus on nuclear weapons over electricity and power, as it upholds National security toward the UK.

reopen conversations about nuclear energy as climate change is becoming more prevalent as part of energy transition away from carbon intensives.

systems of government effecting the ability to develop/implement policy

Democratic: more influenced by public opinion, policy often changes with shifts in government.

Authoritarian: prioritise economic growth over environmental concerns, unless there is real pressure from other actors, or citizens’ pressure. This is an example of outside in intervention often brought about by transnational advocacy network.

Mitterand French regime 1981

First elected socialist in 1981. He co-opted environmental leaders into government, this weakened their movements, especially antinuclear pragmatics, created internal divisions within the environmentalist movement.

Mitigation

actions to reduce or prevent climate change

• renewable energy, reducing waste, better agricultural practices

Adaptation

adjustments to practices to lessen the impact of climate change

• resistant crop, flood defences, stronger/durable/sustainable infrastructure

Technological solutions to climate change mitigation

can reduce emissions, but are expensive and bring about social inequalities. we are over-reliant on technology to fix everything, this is an easy, seductive, comfortable solution.

• desalinisation, carbon capture

Societal shifts to climate change adaptation

behavioural changes and shifts. changes can be difficult to implement due to political resistance, politicians avoid measures as it can lead to political and social backlash.

• Promoting energy conservation, water efficiency practices, and sustainable transportation options

Scholars

Fourier, Arrhenius, Callender, Keeling, Hansen

Introduced the concept of the Green house effect

Fourier

explained climate sensitivity to CO2 - increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere can significantly impact Earth's temperature

Arrhenius

Linked CO2 to the greenhouse effect

Callendar

the Keeling curve, measures CO2 levels in the atmosphere

Keeling

Greenhouse effect is already happening

Hansen

Evidentiary principle

Actors need evidence to react/solve problems (UK acid rain)

Precautionary principle

Actors think any pollution is too much pollution, take precautionary action to prevent pollution and its damages (german acid rain)

Bottom-up

people and communities influence government

Top-down

government influence, the implement and enforce change to the citizens

outside-in

outside groups, organisations and institutions influence governments who will not listen to internal pressures. (Transnational Advocacy Networks)

Approach from UK to acid rain

UK created the problem but were hesitant to identify themselves as doing so until there was evidence and data that acid rain was causing harm. Took almost a decade for the UK to work with Germany on acid rain policies.

Approach from Germany to acid rain

Acid rain was killing trees in the black forest, harming wildlife, corroding soil, and polluting water. Knew acid rain caused damage to the environment they promoted governments to implement mitigation policies as a precaution.

“Boomerang” Pattern

When transnational advocacy networks (TACs) influence undemocratic authoritarian regimes. Civil society is blocked from providing their own pressure on the government, so external actors pressure the government by channelling demand from within.

• Greenpeace

• World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF)

Traditions of environmental policy

• hygiene/public health: addressing pollution and sanitary issues through expertise (doctors/lawyers)

• nature areas: protect nature from urbanisation

• cultural heritage: preserve national land marks/monuments

Realism vs Deep Ecology

Realism: prioritises human needs and wants over the needs of nature, focusing on economic growth and resource security. Humans above nature

Deep Ecology: prioritises the needs of nature above those of humans, selfless, calling for radical shifts in human activities, almost anti-human, the environment is more important, the environment will outlive us.

Hardins tragedy of the commons

people overuse common resources because they don’t see the long-term consequences, reflects global environmental challenges, where nations act in self-interest (realism) leading to overuse and exploitation.

Solutions to the tragedy of the commons

Hardin: mutually agree to give up/restrict certain commons

Libertarians: expand property rights to prevent overuse (Incentive to manage and conserve a shared resource)

Technologists: technical innovation to manage shared resources

How does the tragedy of the commons explain slow policy change

highlights the difficulties in balancing individual national interests with the collective global need to preserve the shared resources. Requires cooperation, global governance and the creation of a system that aligns short and long term goals/

Discrete environmental conceptualisation

the environment is one issue among many in the world, sidelined in favour of economics and national security/interests

Holistic environmental conceptualisation

the environment is foundational to survival, prioritising it as it impacts all aspects of life

Environmental groupthink

Individuals in movements defer responsibility to the collective, leading to less personal accountability and more reliance on group actions. The notion of what can I do? How am I going to stop climate change? I am too small. My actions won't affect it? Reliance on group actions rather than individual actions

• Diesels cleaner

• Investing in biomass

• carbon trade systems (credits)

• greenwashing

• nuclear power (lack of discussion pre-Fukushima)

German/French green party change once part of government

Shifts from radical activity to pragmatic political involvement. After entering the government (Germany, 1983), the need for political compromises became apparent as they integrated into the political system.

• French Green party not as struck by sinking of green peace boat (unusual)