global governance - the environment

what environment challenges does the world face?

• climate change

• deforestation

• Protecting the marine environment

• global energy

• protecting biodiversty

why do this environmental issues need a collective response?

• each state contributes in various ways

• each state is affected

• each state can have an impact

what are difficulties that force states to take action?

• States need a framework to agree what the issues and challenges are. They need access to independent scientists so there can be a collective view and response.

• States need forums to discuss the solutions that could make a difference, to solve disputes and seek agreement. As there is no higher authority, states need to use soft power to negotiate and reach agreements.

• States need international laws and treaties to be agreed to hold all states accountable for their actions. This legitimises actions the international community take.

what are the global commons?

This refers to the principle of a shared global environment. This can be harmed or protected by individual or collective actions. The UN defines global commons as ‘resources or areas that lie outside the political reach of any one nation-state’.

what are laws to protect the global commons?

• the un convention on the law of the sea

• the anartic treaty system

• The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

what can be done to reduce climate change?

1. bringing individual countries emission to net zero

2. investing in cleaner, renewable energy sources

3. Improving international cooperation and monitoring

What is the role of civil society and non-state actors?

Global civil society are individuals and actors who are not part of governments, but they have global reach and global impact.

what are Other impacts on climate change and environmental challenges?

• Industry and corporations

• National laws and taxes

• IGOs

• City administration

• The international science community

what is the stockholm declaration?

The 1972 Stockholm Declaration on the Environment agreed to financially support developing countries to safeguard the environment. In the Paris agreement in 2016, $100b was pledged to this cause.

what is the focus on sustainable development?

• Idea was first put forward by the UN in 1987 which argued you could protect the environment without harming development.

• Sustainable development is one of the key goals of the UN – SDG were agreed in 2015.

• SDG 13 specifically talks about ‘taking urgent action to tackle climate change and its harmful impacts’.

what do global governance attempts try to focus on?

1. agreement to the need of the global commons

2. Agreement on the scientific evidence for environmental threats affecting the global commons

3. Providing a negotiating framework for states and non-state actors

4. International summits to agree to specific principles and actions to be taken

what are international summits?

• The United Nations Conference of the Human Environment (1972)

• The Montreal Protocol (1989)

• The Rio Earth Summit (1992)

what is deep ecology?

Naess – the aim of this theory is to protect and preserve the environment for the benefit of the natural environment itself, rather than just to help humans.

1. All living things are of equal moral value.

2. Humans are not more important to other living things, humans need to be

   considered holistically as part of the environment

3. Individualism should be rejected, humans should consider how to live in harmony with nature.

4. Nature can not be exploited for human gain

what is shallow ecology?

Aims to protect the natural environment for the interests of humankind. Actions are

good if they enable humans to live sustainably and to further human development it is acceptable to approach environmental concerns by thinking about what will benefit humans Sustainable development should be a priority Human priorities can be modified to reduce harm to the environment but you can still prioritise human needs.