Preserving and Enhancing the Global Commons Chapter 14 Preserving and Enhancing the Global Commons

Toward Sustainable Development

The Ecological State of the World Value of the Earth's ecological systems State of the world's ecological systems Environmental pessimists Environmental scarcities Environmental optimists Technological innovation

Sustainable Development Economic development without compromising protection of the environment and human condition The conundrum of sustainable development Development issues Options for sustainable development Severely restricting development Paying the price for environmentally responsible development Example of China Short-term costs for long-term benefits The sustainable development debate: What to believe

Sustainable Development: Issues and Cooperation

Population Issues and Cooperation High growth rate Future trends look grim

Causes of the population problem Decreased infant mortality Increased life span results in large population base Relationship of poverty and birthrates Cultural norms Limited access to birth control

International response to the population problem International organizations and the population problem Role of UN UN Population Fund (UNFPA) UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) World Health Organization (WHO) International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF)

World Population Conferences UN Conference on Population and Development (UNCPD)

Social approaches to reducing the birthrate Birth control

Economic approaches to reducing the birthrate Reduce poverty World Conference on Women (WCW) UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women

Resource Issues and Cooperation Petroleum, natural gas, and minerals Increase in world energy needs versus decrease in nonrenewable resources Oil consumption Coal consumption Nuclear power Vast majority of all energy consumed by EDCs

The resource puzzle Maintain EDCs' economies and standards of living Promote economic development in the South Manage problems of resource depletion and environmental damage

Forests and land Forest depletion Consequences of deforestation Global warming Cost of wood increases Loss of biodiversity Land degradation Soil erosion Increased risk of floods Desertification

Wildlife Economic value and loss of diversity

Marine life Overfishing for food

Water Most water is not potable Increased agricultural and industrial use Contamination Potable water shortage could cause international conflict

Resource Conservation: The Global Response Progress: International agreements UN's Law of the Sea Treaty International Seabed Authority Convention on Desertification Growth of Green parties Ecotourist trade International Whaling Commission (IWC) Controversy over whaling Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Successful protection of elephants

Environmental Issues Ground pollution Water pollution Marine pollution Waste disposal by MNCs Dodging environmental regulations Water pollution Marine pollution Freshwater pollution Air pollution Acid rain Global warming Greenhouse effect Controversial

Global warming: What we know Rise in CO2 emissions Deforestation Temperatures rising

Global warming: What is in dispute Environmental pessimists Climatic changes Intergovernmental Panel on Climatic Change (IPCC) Environmental optimists Natural warming and cooling trends Global warming and its effects are overexaggerated

Global warming: What to do Economic costs Economic tradeoffs Environmental costs

Ozone layer depletion Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) Add to greenhouse effect Increase cancers and life mutations Destroying basic life forms at the bottom of the food chain

Environmental Protection: The International Response Protecting the ozone layer Some progress at international level UN Environmental Programme (UNEP) Limiting chemicals Easing global warming CO2 emissions Global Warming Convention at the 1992 Earth Summit Addressing other environmental concerns Basel Convention Environment has only received international attention since World War II