This document discusses several topics related to global environmental politics and sustainability efforts. It covers issues like transnational crime, disease spread, international agreements on health and the environment, global environmental problems, and strategies for moving toward more sustainable practices. Specific challenges mentioned include climate change, biodiversity loss, and depletion of natural resources if actions are not taken to limit pollution and transition to renewable energy sources.

1. Chapter 14: Population, Resources, and Global Environmental Politics

2. Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning Transnational Crime Global Drug Trade ($300 billion per year) Money Laundering “Conflict Diamonds” Endangered species Stolen Automobiles Piracy of Copyrighted Materials The Arms Trade Terrorism 2

3. Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning International Enforcement Interpol Combating Drug Smuggling U.S. Plan Columbia Combating Money Laundering Financial Action Task Force 3

4. Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning The Spread of Disease Long history Bubonic plague 1918 flu Polio SARS: 2003 H1N1 (swine flu) 4

5. Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning Efforts to Fight Disease World Health Organization (WHO) USAID HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment Fighting infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and polio Maternal and children’s healthcare Family planning Strengthening health systems 5

6. Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning 6 NGOs in International Health The International Red Cross and Crescent Medecins sans Frontiers (MSF) The Gates Foundation

7. Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning The Agenda HIV/AIDS Malaria Tuberculosis (TB) Treating a new flu pandemic 7

8. Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning Ecopolitics The global commons: The physical and organic characteristics and resources of the entire planet—the air in the atmosphere and conditions on land and sea—on which human life depends and which is the common heritage of all humanity. Carrying capacity: The maximum number of humans and living species that can be supported by a given territory. Politics of scarcity: Scarce resources can undermine security and lead to military conflict. 8

9. Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning Global Environmental Problems Depletion of the ozone layer Global warming Biodiversity loss Overpopulation Oil shortages 9

10. Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning The Tragedy of the Commons An example of what can happen with shared resources: land, fish, air. 10

11. Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning International Environmental Collaboration Is Difficult Conflict with existing agreements Competing priorities Equity Scientific uncertainty 11

12. Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning The Kyoto Protocol Limits greenhouse gases Includes provisions for emissions trading Problems: Some feel it is too restrictive Others feel it is too weak 12

13. Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning Other International Agreements The Montreal Protocol Reduce the production and use of gases that deplete the ozone layer The Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) Limit the dumping of land-based pollution into the Mediterranean Sea The Convention on Biological Diversity The conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. 13

14. Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning Ecopolitics Environmental security: Environmental threats can be as important as military threats Sustainable development: Economic growth that does not deplete the resources needed to maintain growth 14

15. Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning Climate Change Greenhouse effect CO2, methane World temperature to rise 2–12ºF by 2100 unless action is taken Possible effects of global warming Rising sea levels Warmer winters and more severe hot spells Increased rainfall in areas prone to flooding; dryer drought-prone regions The disappearance of entire ecosystems Increases in tropical disease Increased hunger and water shortages 15

16. Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning Rising Average Global Temperatures at the Earth’s Surface Since 1867 16

17. Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning Global Warming, Climatic Catastrophes, and Mass Suffering 17

18. Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning Ozone Depletion and Protections Emergence of an international regime Montreal Protocol 1987 Strong scientific evidence and Active NGO epistemic community Can this translate to other issues? Mountains 18

19. Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning The Ecopolitics of Forests and Biodiversity Biodiversity: The variety of plant and animal species living in the earth’s diverse ecosystems Deforestation 1992 Earth Summit Desertification 19

20. Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning Loss of Forest and Ground to Deserts 20

21. Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning Biodiversity Genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity 14 percent of the world’s species are threatened with extinction Most likely to affect the Global South Role of MNCs Enclosure movement 21

22. Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning Locating Biodiversity Bastions and Endangered Biodiversity Hot Spots 22

23. Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning Sources of the Ecological Threats to the Global Commons Tragedy of the commons Rationally self-interested behavior may have a destructive collective impact Overgrazing of animals on the village green Applies to human behavior and ecological systems 23

24. Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning The Globalization of Planetary Dangers IPCC Report 2007 Human activity is the main cause of global warming Climate Change U.S. and China major sources of CO2 Burning coal also causes acid rain 24

25. Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning Touring Trends of the Greenhouse 25

26. Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning The Global Politics of Energy Supplies and Consumption Oil is being used faster than it’s being discovered OPEC countries control oil supply Cartel Oil and natural gas located in politically unstable regions 26

27. Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning Toward Sustainability? Global solutions Converting to renewable sources for energy International treaties for environmental protection Free trade? “Green” corporations 27

28. Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning Phasing Out Fossil Fuels? The Potential for Renewable Energy to Supply to World’s Energy Needs by the Year 2100 28

29. Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning The Number of International Environmental Treaties Since 1921: Protecting the Global Commons? 29

30. Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning Toward Sustainability? Local solutions California state laws EPA An Inconvenient Truth Change a light bulb. Recycle more. Use less hot water. Drive less. Conserve electricity. 30

31. Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning Measuring National Commitments to Environmental Sustainability 31