evolution of global environmental politics

Summary

This script outlines the evolution of global environmental policy from national to international levels, highlighting the United States' early leadership in the 1970s with laws like the Clean Air Act. It discusses how pollution's transboundary nature necessitated global cooperation, leading to conferences like the Stockholm Conference in 1972. The script also covers the rise of collective action problems due to globalization, the importance of international treaties, and the adoption of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, emphasizing the growing involvement of diverse actors like companies and NGOs.

Takeaways

• 🌿 Environmental policy began at the national level but quickly evolved to address international issues.
• 📚 Rachel Carson's 1962 book highlighted the dangers of synthetic pesticides, prompting environmental activism and policy changes in the US.
• 🇺🇸 The 1970s saw the US leading with environmental initiatives that influenced global policy, such as the Clean Air Act.
• 🌍 Countries realized in the 1960s and 70s that environmental issues like pollution know no borders.
• 🌳 The concept of 'external footprints' emerged, recognizing that consumption in one country can harm the environment elsewhere.
• 👣 75% of greenhouse gas emissions from EU-consumed textiles occurred outside Europe, illustrating the transboundary impact of production.
• 🌱 EU consumption contributes significantly to global deforestation, mostly outside its borders, affecting climate and biodiversity.
• 🌱 Food imports by the EU also have external land and water use impacts, emphasizing the need for global environmental cooperation.
• 🤝 The Stockholm Conference in 1972 marked the beginning of international environmental cooperation, leading to the establishment of UNEP.
• 📜 The 1987 Brundtland Report introduced the concept of sustainable development, leading to Agenda 21 at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.
• 🌐 The Rio+20 conference in 2012 reaffirmed environmental priorities and initiated the process towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Q & A

What was the role of the United States in the early development of global environmental policy?

In the early development of global environmental policy, the United States played a leading role with many initiatives that originated in the US and then spread to other countries.

What book by Rachel Carson highlighted the dangers of synthetic pesticides?

Rachel Carson published a book in 1962 that uncovered the danger of synthetic pesticides for human health, particularly DDT.

What were some of the major U.S. environmental laws adopted in the 1970s?

Some of the major U.S. environmental laws adopted in the 1970s include the Clean Air Act and the Toxic Substances Control Act.

How did the understanding of environmental issues evolve from local to global?

Initially, environmental issues were seen as local problems that could be solved with local solutions. However, in the 1960s and 70s, countries realized that pollution does not stop at borders and that activities in one country can have negative externalities affecting other countries.

What is meant by 'negative externalities' in the context of environmental issues?

Negative externalities refer to side effects on other people and countries that result from activities in one country, meaning that pollution and other environmental impacts can cross borders.

What is an 'external footprint' and how is it related to globalization?

An external footprint refers to the environmental harm caused outside a country due to consumption within that country. It is related to globalization as countries increasingly consume products produced elsewhere, leading to environmental impacts beyond their borders.

What percentage of greenhouse gas emissions from EU-consumed textiles occurred outside Europe in 2017?

In 2017, 75 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions caused by producing clothes, footwear, and household textiles consumed in the European Union occurred outside Europe.

What is a collective action problem in the context of environmental issues?

A collective action problem is a situation where multiple individuals or countries would benefit from a certain action, but the action comes at a cost, making individuals unlikely to pay that cost unless others do likewise, necessitating an authoritative agreement or organization to ensure everyone contributes.

What was the significance of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment in 1972?

The Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment in 1972 marked the beginning of international global environmental cooperation, leading to the establishment of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

What was the main outcome of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992?

The main outcomes of the 1992 Rio conference, also known as the Earth Summit, were the adoption of Agenda 21, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, the principles of foreign management, and two major environmental treaties: the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

What are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how were they established?

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 global goals set by the United Nations to address social, economic, and environmental issues. They were established following the Rio+20 conference in 2012 and were adopted in New York in 2015.