Economic development and climate change (3)

Economic development and climate change

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Deforestation: real life situations to answer questions

Reasons?

Reasons

• In Brazil deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest and other rainforests mainly for cattle farming

• In Indonesia to plant palm trees for palm oil

• Crop farming, logging for wood, etc

• This maintains economic development (economic growth as country produces more)

Deforestation follow up: real life situations to answer questions

Consequences? Both in general and specifically case study of Indonesia

• Less CO2 being absorbed so more CO2 in atmosphere and stronger greenhouse effect = climate change.

  • Rainforests particularly absorb huge amounts of CO2 (carbon sink), more than e.g pine trees

• When rainforests are cut down it would take a very long time (decades or even centuries) for them to fully grow

• Rainforests in Brazil are being cut down for cattle farming. Cattle releases methane which is another greenhouse gas.

• Deforestation in Indonesia Let’s get thinking

  • Biodiversity is at risk because animal habitats such as those of the orangutans in Indonesia (NOT Brazil) are disappearing.

  • The traditional way of life of the indigenous population is also threatened. They depend on the forest for medicine, food, shelter and other necessities. As the forest disappears, so does their culture

  • Flash floods are becoming more common — such as in Indonesia’s eastern Papua province— because as forest disappears there are fewer trees to soak up rainwater and let it out slowly.

Logging

The activity of cutting down trees to use their wood

Particularly rainforests and boreal forests. Illegal logging is a significant issue, especially in countries like Brazil, Indonesia and the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) leading to deforestation

The cost of prioritising economic growth.

As more countries focus on developing their economies, it is having a negative impact on the environment and our ____.

Why does globalisation impact the environment? Why might globalisation help the country?

Global commons

Globalisation has meant that goods and services can be accessed by more people all over the world, increasing the demand. This leads to environmental damage

It also means that it it gives opportunity for the country to grow their economy and improve their standard of living

What kinds of environmental damage has the fast paced economic growth and globalisation led to?

• Using up non-renewable resources (.g oil, gas and coal)

• Overfishing, resulting in reduced fish stocks

• Biodiversity loss (e.g from deforestation)

• Air pollution (e.g smog from factories)

• Ocean pollution (e.g getting rid of waste into the ocean, which can destroy the habitat of marine life, such as fish and coral)

• A rise in CO2 levels in the atmosphere, increasing the Earth’s global temperature (global warming) and then leading to climate change and its long list of consequences.

Reducing the costs

Which groups/entities are actively helping to control the impacts that global economic development has had on our environment?

This is a GLOBAL ISSUE affecting everyone

• International organisations like the United Nations, the EU

• Pressure groups like Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth

• Governments of countries

Pressure groups

What are they? Difference from NGOs?

Pressure groups are people who come together with the aim of influencing others, or the government about a particular issue

Well pressure groups primary aim to influence policy decisions. NGOs are generally focused on addressing social issues and providing aid.

Actions of the UN, the EU and other international organisations on this

They have recognised the impact of global economic development has had an on our environment and they are working together to persuade countries to change the way they interact with environment

For example, UN have established the Paris Agreement after holding the COP21 or the treaty UNFCCC. Also they have agencies like the UNEP which works with countries to integrate environmental sustainability into development planning

The EU

• Has set the European Green Deal which includes the European Climate Law to make the EU climate neutral by 2050.

• It has established environmental policies e.g to control air quality which have reduced air pollution between its member states (e.g Madrid’s initiative to transition their 2000 public transport, EMT, buses to electric ones).

• LIFE programme funds projects that address the environment (biodiversity conservation, circular economy practices, climate change mitigation and adaptation, clean energy transition)

How have pressure groups impact the way we think about the environment? Examples

Pressure groups like Greenpeace or Friends of the Earth ask for change by campaigning and protesting

In 2020, Greenpeace protested in the North Sea to stop oil production polluting the ocean

Examples of what Finland has implemented as a part of its strategy to reduce environmental damage. However, why might a country like Finland find it more easier to do this than other countries?

Finland has many effective ways to protect the natural environment.

• It has lake and river cleanup policies to remove waste

• Protected areas for nature to increase biodiversity

• It controls its CO2 emissions

Finland is a wealthy developed country so it can afford environmental investments. It also has a low population density which makes it easier for nature conservation.

Other European countries have also integrated policies to protect the environment.

For example, many European countries have new recycling rules for anything that’s produced. How does this look like in Sweden?

In Sweden, 99% of household waste is recycled and used to produce energy

Case Study: China’s Green growth

What has been the situation in China since the 1970s? Give details about the consequences

China’s economic growth has been very rapid since the 1970s. There are many factories which has resulted in more fossil fuels, producing smog that pollutes the air and costs on average 1.1 million lives each year in China, as well as crop failure. This pollution also has a global impact due to the threat of global warming and climate change.

China’s pollution reduces the efforts of other countries trying to tackle this global phenomenon

Case Study: China’s Green growth pt 2

What has the Chinese government done about this?

• No new coal-fired power stations were built and older ones were shut down.

• In some cities such as Beijing, the number of cars on the road was restricted.

• ‘New energy vehicles’ (NEVs) have become very popular in China, such as electric buses China has more than 400,000 or about 99% of the worlds total.

• The government also introduced the Great Green Wall program which aims to restore the environment by planting trees.

  • So far 35 billion trees have been planted to prevent deserts taking over farmland (desertification)

  • The hope is that the trees will improve the soil quality and allow food crops to grow around the trees

Remember: global commons belong to everyone, not just one nation.