Untitled Flashcards Set

1. Four Main Themes of Conservative Party Environmentalism 

• Commitment to tradition

• Appreciation of limits

• Attachment to the countryside

• Stewardship and obligation to future generations 

2. Differences in French Environmentalism

French environmentalism has been influenced by social movements, particularly the 1968 protests, and has been more volatile than in other countries. France has had a fluctuating relationship with politics, with environmentalism often functioning as a social movement. Les Verts' inability to gain significant political power reflected this inconsistency. 

3. 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.

4. The Vanoise Affair and the Fight for the Larzac

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

• Larzac: Farmers' protest against military base expansion. Both protests successfully stopped the proposed expansions, marking a key moment in the development of modern environmental movements in France.

5. Feed-in Tariffs and Technological Adoption

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

• For example, Germany taxes all citizens to fund FITs.

6. American Conception of "Wilderness"

• Sublime (romanticism): Linked to European thought.

• Frontier (American): Represents individual freedom and escape from civilization.

• Important for understanding climate politics because this conception influences how environmentalists frame nature as something "out there," rather than part of our immediate surroundings.

7. 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.

8. Paterson's Applied Critical Approach

• Cars: Reflect capital accumulation, success, and freedom. They perpetuate social inequalities.

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

9. Decoupling in Economic Growth

• Decoupling: Decreasing carbon emissions while GDP continues to rise. Example: Germany's ability to reduce carbon emissions without harming economic growth, turning the environment vs. economy debate into a positive-sum game.

10. Attitudes Toward Nuclear Energy

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

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

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. Mitigation vs. Adaptation in Climate Change

• 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).

15. Technological Solutions to Climate Change

• Technological solutions: 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.

16. Societal Shifts for Climate Adaptation

• Societal changes: 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.

17. Scholars in Anthropogenic Climate Change

• 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.

18. Evidentiary vs. Precautionary Principles

• Evidentiary: Pollution is an effect of human actions, aims for the "least cost" solution.

• Precautionary: 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.

19. 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).

20. Acid Rain in the UK vs. Germany

• UK: Acid rain caused by UK’s pollution affecting Germany. Initially slow to act, relying on evidence.

• Germany: Acid rain affected Germany’s Black Forest and prompted swift action due to widespread public concern. They favored the precautionary principle.

21. The Boomerang Pattern

• Refers to the influence of transnational advocacy networks (TANs) on authoritarian regimes, where local civil society is unable to exert pressure. External actors can pressure governments by channeling demands from within.

22. Three Traditions of European Environmental Policy

• Hygiene and public health: Addressing pollution and sanitary issues through expertise (doctors, lawyers). 

• Nature areas: Protecting nature from urbanization. 

• Cultural heritage: Preserving national landmarks and monuments. 

23. Realism vs. Deep Ecology

• Realism: Prioritizes human needs and economic growth.

• Deep Ecology: Prioritizes the needs of nature, calling for a radical shift in human activities. Almost anti-human

24. British vs. French/German Anti-Nuclear Campaigns

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

• France & Germany: Focused on opposition to nuclear energy due to safety concerns, with significant protests.

25. The Tragedy of the Commons

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

• This reflects global environmental challenges, where nations act in their self-interest, leading to overuse of resources.

26. Solutions to the Tragedy of the Commons

• 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.

27. Global Environmental Politics and the Tragedy of the Commons

• Overpopulation and resource depletion contribute to slow environmental change. Nations often prioritize short-term gain over long-term sustainability, delaying necessary action.

28. Ostrom’s Principles for Managing the Commons

• Clearly define group boundaries.

• Match rules to local needs and conditions.

• Allow community members to modify rules.

• Respect rule-making rights.

• Develop community-led monitoring systems.

• Use graduated sanctions for violations.

• Provide accessible dispute resolution mechanisms.

• Build governance in nested levels from local to global.

29. Environmental Conceptualization: Holistic vs. Discrete

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

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

30. British Environmentalism

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

• The structure of the UK government limits the influence of smaller parties like the Green Party.

31. Environmental Groupthink

• The idea that individuals in environmental movements often defer responsibility to the collective, leading to less personal accountability and a reliance on group actions.

32. German Green Party and Institutionalization

• The German Green Party shifted from radical activism to pragmatic political involvement after entering the Bundestag in 1983. The need for political compromises became apparent as they integrated into the political system.