17.32 Environmental Politics 1 Global Environmental Problems

17.32 Environmental Politics2 International Environmental Politics Environmental policy is about what government does and does not do to address environmental problems Environmental politics is the clash of values & interests that occurs in the course of formulating and implementing policy What does this suggest about international environmental politics and policy?

17.32 Environmental Politics3 Third Generation Issues Global in Scale Long-term in Scope Significant Scientific Uncertainty Large Economic Stakes Complex Institutional Management

17.32 Environmental Politics4 Global Environmental Problems Climate Change Ozone Depletion Biodiversity Loss Ocean Exhaustion

17.32 Environmental Politics5 WHY NOT IMPOSE INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS? Sovereignty No Supra-National Authority – –U.N. – –World Court

17.32 Environmental Politics6 Ozone, CFCs, and Montreal Why was it possible to construct an international regime to respond to Ozone Depletion – –Immediate scope and tangibility of the problem – –Small set of CFC producers Industry interested in product change – –Relatively Low Cost to Industry No net economic impact on states – –Developed-Developing states rift healed by funding

17.32 Environmental Politics7 Global Climate Fluctuations

17.32 Environmental Politics8 Kyoto Treaty Treaty Text GHG Emissions Reductions – –1990 target year – –Industrial Countries = 5% reduction from 1990 emissions levels by 2012 US = 7% European Union = 8% Japan = 6% Emissions trading allowed – –Industrializing Countries = voluntary reductions

17.32 Environmental Politics9 US GHG Problem 90% of US GHG emissions = fossil fuel combustion US reduction strategy must involve – –Energy efficiency/conservation – –Removing subsides from fossil fuel extraction/production (~ $100 billion/year) – –Develop alternative energy sources

17.32 Environmental Politics10 Policy Problem Convincing the government there is a problem Devising an effective course of action Getting other governments to do likewise

17.32 Environmental Politics11 Bush CO2 Plan CO2 MT per $ million Year

17.32 Environmental Politics12 Bush CO2 Plan CO2 MT per $ million Year

17.32 Environmental Politics13 Bush CO2 Plan Year CO2 MT Emissions

17.32 Environmental Politics14 Biodiversity Loss Continental-Scale Ecosystem Destruction – –Human Population Growth – –Economic Development Mining, forestry, agriculture Ebola virus killing off African primates Climate Change

17.32 Environmental Politics15 Biodiversity Loss Consumptive Use Bio-Homogenization – –Economic Globalization – –Alien Invasions Fungus decimating amphibian populations West Nile Virus decimating bird populations – –Plus dozens of other species Sudden Oak Death Syndrome Wooly Adelgid

17.32 Environmental Politics16 Ocean Exhaustion Consumption – –Collapsing Fish Populations – –collateral damage Leatherback turtles Pollution – –Eutrophication Dying Coral reefs – –Toxins, Viruses, Bacteria Sea otter decline Habitat destruction – –Bottom trawling – –Coastal wetlands