International Environmental Policy - Water and Food Crisis

Announcement

  • No filming or recording of class content is allowed.
  • Violation of the TIU Student Code of Conduct will result in up to a 20% mark deduction.

Assessment

  • Policy Paper: 30% of the final grade.
    • Due May 23rd, submitted via Moodle.
    • 2000 words, excluding citations.
  • Model COP: 30% of the final grade.
    • Practices: May 29, June 2, June 5.
    • Graded sessions: June 19, June 23, June 26, June 30, July 3.
  • In-Class Test: 40% of the final grade.
    • June 16th, 90 minutes long.
    • Includes both short and long essays.
    • Students are responsible for ensuring their handwriting is readable.

Water Scarcity

  • Is water scarcity a domestic affair, or does it require international policy?
  • Evidence of water scarcity:
    • Reducing snowpack.
    • River flow changes.
    • Water supply and quality affected.
    • Habitat in river and sea affected.
    • Sea-level rise.
    • Saltwater intrusion.
    • Increased water use demand.
    • Loss of groundwater.
    • More floods and droughts.

Feeding the Future?

  • Is the cause of food scarcity natural or human-induced?
  • Is it a North-South or North-North dispute?

Feeding the Future? - Fisheries Depletion

  • Factors contributing to fisheries depletion:
    • Rising number of fishing vessels and advanced technologies.
    • Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fisheries.
    • The UN Fish Stocks Agreement is not capable enough.
  • The tragedy of the commons.
    • Straddling fish stocks like cod and Pollack.
  • Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) vs. international waters.
  • Disputes between coastal and distant-water fishing states (North-North disputes).
  • Canada was a lead state in the UN Fish Stock Agreement in regulating straddling and migratory fish stocks.
  • European countries, especially Spain, strongly opposed the Canadian proposal for high-seas fisheries.
  • Conflict: Sovereignty vs. freedom (or rights) in global commons.
  • Coastal Fishing States formed a "like-minded" caucus:
    • Argentina, Canada, Chile, Iceland, New Zealand, Norway, and Peru.
  • Distant-Water Fishing States established a veto coalition:
    • EU, Japan, South Korea (and later China).
  • Both sides opposed regulation in the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED).
  • The U.S. became the broker, due to being part of the distant-water states and lobbying by NGOs.
  • The U.S. proposed a “precautionary approach” and “reference points”, breaking the monopoly of the “flag state”, becoming a lead state in global fisheries.
  • Many countries have not joined or ratified the UN Fish Stocks Agreement.
    • Examples: Peru, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, Thailand, Vietnam, and China.
  • Members can opt-out any time.
    • Example: European countries breaching or resetting their own targets.
  • International regimes are working to turn soft law into hard law and enhance implementation capacity.
  • The effectiveness of NGOs varies.
    • The WWF advocates for “smart fishing” (identification system and certified fisheries) and long-term fisheries recovery.

Conclusion

  • Future sources of war?
  • Sovereignty, regulations, and public goods.
  • Comparison with deforestation and desertification…