The Environment

negative externality

the harm, cost, or inconvenience suffered by a third party because of actions by others

soft law

voluntarily adopted guidelines for corporate behavior derived from emerging norms and standards in international codes, declarations, and conventions

soft law principles

significant harm, good neighbor, polluter pays, precautionary, preventative action

significant harm principle

that states should not take action that would harm the environment of other states

good neighbor principle

that states should not take action that would harm the environment of other states geographically near them

polluter pays principle

the state or other entity responsible for emitting pollution should also be responsible for cleaning it up and reducing the environmental harm it causes, especially to other countries

precautionary principle

action should be taken against a plausible environmental hazard

preventative action principle

states should take action to prevent environmental harm from taking place as opposed to trying to deal with effects of harm after it occurs

general

UN Convention(s): biological diversity

climate change

UN Convention(s): Montreal Protocol, Vienna Convention, UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol

pollution

UN Convention(s): prevention of marine pollution by dumping of wastes and other matter, long-range transboundary air pollution, control of transboundary movements, persistent organic pollutants, Minimata Convention

natural resources

UN Convention(s): regulation of whaling, international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora, Tropical Timber Agreement

epistemic community

community of experts and technical specialists who share a set of beliefs and a way to approach problems

mitigation

policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance carbon sinks

geoengineering

large-scale manipulation of an environmental process meant to counteract climate change

adaptation

shifting resources into preparing for and remediating the effects of climate change

conservation

protecting and preserving natural resources and the environment

preservation

maintenance of a resource in its present condition, with as little human impact as possible

Kyoto Protocol

UN Convention, controlling global warming by setting greenhouse gas emissions targets for developed countries

Paris Agreement

UN Convention dealing with greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, adaptation, and finance starting in 2020

Green New Deal

a proposed United States legislation that aims to address climate change and economic inequality