Key Themes in Environmental Politics and Movements

Four Main Themes of Conservative Party Environmentalism

Commitment to tradition, Appreciation of limits, Attachment to the countryside, Stewardship and obligation to future generations

Differences in French Environmentalism

French environmentalism is distinct due to Social protests and political movements like Les Verts and Generation Ecologie.

French environmentalism has been influenced by social movements, particularly the 1968 protests, and has been more volatile than in other countries.

Important Elements for Understanding French Environmentalism

Structural: Political parties and groups like Les Verts and Generation Ecologie. Societal: The interaction between formal (politicians) and informal (social movements) sectors of society.

The Vanoise Affair

Vanoise Affair (1969): Protest against ski resort expansion in a national park.

The Larzac Protest

Larzac: Farmers' protest against military base expansion.

Impact of Vanoise Affair and Larzac Protest

Both protests successfully stopped the proposed expansions, marking a key moment in the development of modern environmental movements in France.

Feed-in Tariffs (FIT)

A feed-in tariff guarantees a set price for renewable energy producers, which reduces financial risks and encourages investment in new, economically uncertain technologies.

Example of Feed-in Tariffs

Germany taxes all citizens to fund FITs.

Cronon, Wilderness

Sublime (romanticism): Linked to European thought. Frontier (American): Represents individual freedom and escape from civilization.

Paterson's View on Environmental Solutions

Paterson emphasizes that the form of a question shapes the scope of its answer. For example, assuming only sovereign states can solve environmental issues limits potential solutions, excluding other actors like international organizations.

Paterson's Applied Critical Approach to Cars

Cars reflect capital accumulation, success, and freedom. They perpetuate social inequalities.

Paterson's Applied Critical Approach to Meat

Meat is a symbol of freedom and modernity. Its consumption is tied to economic and cultural power structures.

Decoupling

Decreasing carbon intensity while GDP continues to rise. The idea that economic growth can occur without increasing environmental pressures

Example of Decoupling

Germany's ability to reduce carbon emissions without harming economic growth, turning the environment vs. economy debate into a positive-sum game.

Attitudes Toward Nuclear Energy in Germany

Due to past Soviet reactor designs and the Fukushima disaster, Germany is phasing out nuclear power in favor of renewable energy.

Nuclear Energy in France

Relied heavily on nuclear energy (75% at one point) for energy independence, despite some protests against nuclear power.

Impact of Government Systems on Environmental Policy

• Democratic systems: More influenced by public opinion, allowing for policy changes with shifts in government.

• Authoritarian systems: Often prioritize economic growth and may not implement environmental policies unless external pressures exist.

France's Independent Nuclear Policy

Developed for energy and weapons independence from oil and NATO. France's nuclear policy was driven by Mitterrand's push for energy self-sufficiency, quelling much of the anti-nuclear movement.

The Mitterrand Regime and French Environmentalism

Mitterrand, elected in 1981, initially co-opted environmental leaders, weakening the anti-nuclear movement. His pragmatic approach created internal divisions within the environmentalist movement.

Mitigation

Actions to reduce or prevent climate change (e.g., using renewable energy, reducing waste).

Adaptation

Adjusting to the impacts of climate change (e.g., building flood defenses, changing crop varieties).

Technological Solutions to Climate Change

Can reduce emissions but are expensive and often contribute to social inequalities. Over-reliance on technology could also contribute to an external view of the environment, where it's seen as something to be 'fixed' rather than part of our interconnected world.

e.g Wind and solar power, carbon capture, electric vehicles

Societal Shifts for Climate Adaptation

Require deep behavioral shifts to address climate change. These changes can be difficult to implement due to political resistance, as politicians avoid measures that could lead to political or social backlash.

Fourier

Introduced the concept of the greenhouse effect.

Tyndall

Identified greenhouse gases that absorb heat.

Arrhenius

Explained climate sensitivity to CO2.

Callendar

Linked CO2 to the greenhouse effect.

Keeling

Established the 'Keeling Curve,' measuring CO2 levels.

Manabe & Broecker

Used computer models to simulate climate systems.

Hansen

Warned that the greenhouse effect is already happening.

Evidentiary Principles

Pollution is an effect of human actions, aims for the 'least cost' solution.

Precautionary Principles

Any pollution is harmful and should be avoided entirely. Both approaches aim to tackle pollution but differ in their methodology—evidentiary requires evidence of harm, while precautionary acts based on the potential risk of harm.

Eastern European Environmental Policies

Bottom-up: Grassroots movements influencing government policy (e.g., the Helsinki Act). Top-down: Governments directly influencing environmental policy. Outside-in: External pressures on a nation's government, often through transnational advocacy groups (TANs).

UK response to acid rain

Acid rain caused by UK's pollution affecting German forests. Initially slow to act, relying on evidence.

Acid Rain

Affected Germany's Black Forest and prompted swift action due to widespread public concern.

Boomerang Pattern

Refers to the influence of transnational advocacy networks (TANs) on authoritarian regimes, where local civil society is unable to exert pressure.

Three Traditions of European Environmental Policy

Hygiene and public health, nature areas, and cultural heritage.

Realism

Prioritizes human needs and economic growth.

Deep Ecology

Prioritizes the needs of nature, calling for a radical shift in human activities.

British Anti-Nuclear Campaigns

Focused on nuclear weapons and national security concerns rather than nuclear power.

French/German Anti-Nuclear Campaigns

Focused on opposition to nuclear energy due to safety concerns, with significant protests.

Tragedy of the Commons

People overuse common resources because they don't see the long-term consequences.

Hardin's Solution

Agree to limit use of shared resources.

Libertarians' Solution

Expand property rights to prevent overuse.

Technologists' Solution

Innovate technological solutions to manage shared resources.

Global Environmental Politics

Overpopulation and resource depletion contribute to slow environmental change.

Ostrom's Principles for Managing the Commons

Include clearly defining group boundaries and allowing community members to modify rules.

Discrete View of Environment

The environment is one issue among many, often sidelined in favor of economic or social issues.

Holistic View of Environment

The environment is foundational to our survival and should be prioritized as it impacts all aspects of life.

British Environmental politics

Characterized by a non-confrontational, low-key approach, influenced by cultural conservatism.

Environmental Groupthink

The idea that individuals in environmental movements often defer responsibility to the collective.

German Green Party

Shifted from radical activism to pragmatic political involvement after entering the Bundestag in 1983.

Germany, France, and the UK have very different views on nuclear energy.

• Germany is strongly anti-nuclear, especially after the Fukushima disaster in 2011. This event triggered a complete nuclear phase-out, largely driven by public pressure and the Green Party’s influence. Germany replaced nuclear with renewables — but also some coal, highlighting the tension between climate goals and energy security.

• France, by contrast, is pro-nuclear, seeing it as crucial for energy independence (especially after the 1970s oil shocks). Nuclear energy provides around 70% of France’s electricity, making it central to their energy policy. France also ties nuclear to national prestige and its independent nuclear weapons program.

• The UK has historically focused more on nuclear weapons than nuclear energy, seeing nuclear technology primarily as a national security tool. However, with climate change becoming a bigger concern, the UK has reopened conversations about nuclear power as part of its energy transition, aiming for energy security alongside emissions cuts.