In What Ways Do States and International Organizations Respond to Environmental Problems - Research Paper Example

IN WHAT WAYS AND WITH WHAT EFFECTIVENESS, DO STATES AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS RESPOND TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS? The environment is an important component of the human society. This is not only based on its role in fostering life, but also its interconnectedness all over the world. Far and beyond what environmentalists have cited is the fact that, the variety and variability of life on Earth depend on the state of the environment. In other words, the existences of “plants and animals that grow, breathe, walk, fly, and swim, on the surface of the Earth” rely on the environment to supply their habitant and enable their natural processes (Barr 2008, p. 4). On the other hand, the environment has continually received greater consideration because it sustains every aspect of human life. Despite that the environment is a vital component for the continuity of the life on Earth; it is constantly faced with problems such as pollution, dissertation, deforestation, and flooding among others. Such problems vary based on a country’s economic status; developed or developing. For instance, developed countries’ environmental issues are associated with economic strength and higher lifestyles in such countries as opposed to developing countries whose environmental problems are associated with poverty. Owing to such variation, different countries and international organizations respond to various environmental problems differently based on their economic status, global or regional location, and the magnitude of such problems. However, in the recent past, human beings have become more sensitive to the environment because of the wide reports that cite human activities such as deforestation, depletion of the Ozone, and emission of toxic gases into the atmosphere thereby influencing the environmental condition of a place. Moreover, environmentalists and scientists have reported a great correlation in various human activities, the natural environment, the climate, and the changes associated with the climate change (Cudworth 2003, p. 75-76). According to the Assembly of the First Nations, States and international organizations respond to environmental problems to protect both “external conditions which affect the life, growth, development, and survival of an organism or group of organisms” (2008, p. 5). Owing to such grounds, this paper explores various ways employed by States and international organizations in respond to environmental problems and the effectiveness of such measures in combating the problems surrounding the environment. Nations and International Organization’s Response to Environmental Problems Combating Desertification and Drought According to the United Nations Convention, desertification refers to the process of “land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors” such as changes in climate and other human activities (UN 2012). In most cases, degraded lands have a higher probability of developing into desert-like conditions which mostly results into various environmental crises such as loss of biodiversity and global warming; desertification also results to economic, political, and social problems. Following the impacts of desertification, the United Nations Convention responded by adopting various measures to combat and mitigate deserter in Africa in 17th June 1994. The convention to Combat Desertification (CCD) came into force on 26th December 1996 after being ratified by 60 countries with an aim of combating and mitigating the effects of drought. Preparing People for Drought Although it is hard for drought to be predicted, CCD has endeavoured to offer information to places that are vulnerable to drought. The aim of such information is to serve as warning signs thereby offering people an opportunity to prepare effectively for the drought. In addition, drought prepared information also offer a range of copying strategies that can be utilized by the population at risk based on their ability and the perceived benefit that they are to obtain by adopting such a strategy. Such a strategy is action oriented and has been employed by America to respond to desertification (Cudworth 2003, p. 76). Developing Education and Training In most cases, both international and individual States have responded to draught by developing education and training programs aimed at combating such environmental problem. The aim of training and educational programs is to offer information and understanding on drought as an environmental problem. Naturally, through education and training program, people get informed, understand, and organize projects that are meant to combat desertification. United Nations considers education as a means of sharing knowledge and managing the resources available within the reach of the community to resolve the problem of desertification and drought (2000, p. 8-9). Creating an Enabling and Sustainable Environment International organizations strongly believe that drought and densification can only be addressed if the population at risk and those in affected regions are offered appropriate living conditions (Miller and Spoolman 2012). In other words, people can only take care of the land if they are the right owners of such land otherwise they might not care about the land if it is to be taken away from them. According to the CCD, desertification can only be fought on long-term basis thereby justifying the need for an enabling environment that can allow the populations at risk to focus on sustainable development (United States 2012). Curdworth further reports that most nations and international organizations encourage the process of sustainability because of the belief that such people nee adopt sustainable lifestyles by reducing their rate of consumption (Curdworth 2003, p. 82). Ideally, the current society is built on consumerism which propagates an increment in production. In the long run, consumerism leads to exhaustion of the Earth’s natural resources and an increased rate pollution. In Barr’s view, most international organizations and governments encourage behaviour change as an element of sustainability development (2008, p. 85). In other words, for the human society to be sustainable, it must strike a balance between the environment, economy and society. On the other hand, education and training is usually considered as an appropriate mechanism through which the government and international organizations determinate information and education concerning the dangers of drought and desertification (United States 2012, p. 8). In doing so, States and international organizations have not only succeeded in preparing people on desertification and drought, but also managed to convince the populations at risk to accept the realities of draught and how to manage such environmental problems. Adopting Long-Term Development to Combat Drought This mechanism usually involves encouraging, facilitating and implementing community based programs to counteract and manage desertification and drought (Miller and Spoolman 2012). It can either be in form of natural resources and other traditional measures. According to the United Nations, the main of such community based programs is to involve the entire community in every single aspect of drought and densification (2000, p. 8). Collaboration with Agencies in Controlling Environmental Problems The process of collaboration as a response to environmental problems was adopted way back in 1940s when the US federal agencies opted to involve the public in decision and policy making. When the national Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was enacted into law, more collaboration were sort on matters pertaining to the human environment. According to Koontz, the government serves as a follower, an encourager, a leader, an actor and an institution is managing environmental issues (Miller and Spoolman 2012, p. 631). In a bid to respond to various environmental issues through collaboration, both the government and international organizations have adopted the following measures. Raising Public Awareness and Participation Both the government and international organizations recognize that environmental problems have no boarder. As such, they have adopted international collaboration both at bilateral and multilateral level in order to enhance corporation of all stakeholders; this involves those in public and private sector, as well as non-governmental organization and the civil society. In Barr’s view, nations and governments involves the community in environmental issues in order to allow the communities to realize that they can achieve much if they join forces (2008, p. 90). For instance, the community Action 2020 commonly known as the Together We Can has endeavoured to promote community participation in solving environmental issues through local communication networks and messages that do not cause anxiety. Such mechanism recognizes that all societal levels need to be included in addressing the problems associated with the environment. Ideally such capacity can only be attained if all environmental stakeholders are offered information on the benefits of the environment and the dangers associated with environmental problems. Moreover, governments and international organizations have taken the present technological advancement as a means of creating awareness as well as empowerment to the citizens thereby combating environmental problems. For instance, the mobile phone technology enabled the Chinese citizens to send messages in a bid to “oppose the construction of a chemical plant” that they perceived was going to put the life of about 1.5 million Chinese at stake (Miller and Spoolman, 2012, p. 630). Miller and Spoolman argues that governments and international organizations have responded to environmental issues by encouraging individuals and other social movements to participate in environmental issues because of the belief that individuals matter and can influence environmental policies for a better tomorrow (2012, p. 630). Such assertion is in-line with the historical record that attributed change to bottom-up quest for better life. The effectiveness of such strategy cannot be undermined because it is what has controlled pollution and other environmental issues thereby ensuring that the environment has remained palatable. For instance, Cudworth reports that the US government encourages the use of collaboration in response to environmental problems through social movement organizations (SMOs) campaigns (2003, p. 77). Moreover, the fact that environmental issues do not recognize political or territory boarders have prompted both governments and international organizations to seek for wider collaboration. That is, raising the awareness and participation both at national and international level. In order to achieve such capacity, the international community has constantly encourage and offered information on environmental problems thereby encouraging all member States to take active part in addressing such problem. For instance, bodies such as UN, the OECD, OSCE and the World Bank have been mobilizing and coordinating the international community actively so as to collectively address various problems facing the global environment. International Agreements and Conventions on Environmental Conservation Besides environmental awareness, States and international organizations have always responded to environmental issues by signing international agreements and conventions. For instance, the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) was an agreement that was signed at the Stockholm Conference in 1972. UNEP is mandated with the responsibility of coordinating and addressing various environmental problems among the UN member States. Since the inception of the UNEP, it has adopted various mechanisms in response to environmental problems. First and foremost, UNEP invented the concept of sustainable development through the Commission on Environment and Development in 1987. The aim of sustainable development is for nations focus on developmental issues that are capable of supplying the resources required by the current generation without interfering with such possibility in the future. Sound Management of Environment by the Government This is a form of collaboration strategy that has been advanced by the international organization. It was adopted by the UN conference on Environment and Development (Rio Conference) of June 1992. Through such measure, the UN has continued to encourage governments to adopt appropriate measures to combat desertification, climate change and conserve the environment for biological diversity. The other great stride that has been used by governments and international organizations to manage the environment appropriately under the above strategy is focusing on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Although the MDGs were only adopted during the 2000 summit, it has presently been used by States as a development basis. In fact governments adopted the MDGs as a response mechanism for environmental problems particularly because it allows developing and developed countries to collaborate in the quest to create a sustainable environment and future. According Environmentalist the Right to Combat Environmental Problems Governments and international organizations recognize environmentalists as environmental leaders with a mission to making a difference on environmental matters (Miller and Spoolman 2012, p. 631). As leaders, environmentalists have tried to lead by example in a bid to offer leadership on environment. For instance, various environmentalists have often showed the world that it is possible for environmental problems to be resolved by leading environmental friendly lifestyles. This includes eating foods produced sustainably, using bikes, walking or public transport instead of private car (Miller and Spoolman 2012, p. 631). Environmentalists have worked hand-in-hand with the incumbent governments and economy to improve the environment. In this context, environmentalists act as activists by “campaigning and voting” for political leaders with the environment at heart (Miller and Spoolman 2012, p. 631). Through such strategies, environmentalists have effectively utilized politicians to advance the need for environmental conservation and sensitize companies that are harmful to the environment. At the same time, environmentalists have been utilized by government and international organization to serve at various environmental officers that are considered sensitive thereby giving them the opportunity to advocate and combat various environmental issues. Taking active role at critical points within the government or international organization is not only believed to be a means of standing for sustainable environmental management, but is also considered to be an opportunity for environmentalists to offer better solutions to various environmental issues surrounding the world. Use of Environmental Law and Policies to Govern the Environment The other measure that has been taken by governments and international organizations in a bid to respond to environmental issues is environmental law. According to Miller and Spoolman (2012), environmental laws refers to a collection of “laws and treaties that broadly define” environmental behaviours that are considered to be the most recommended practice for the entire humanity (p. 636). In most cases the most acceptable practices for the human society are formulated by either the legislature or the judiciary. This implies that governments have often embraced environmental policies than international bodies as response to environmental problems. Nonetheless, governments and international organizations have effectively utilized environmental laws to respond to environmental issues. This is based on the fact that such laws offers the bodies the opportunity to “balance competing private, social, and commercial interests” thereby avoiding any form of biasness that might exist among stakeholders (Miller and Spoolman 2012, p. 631). Environmental policies have also been critical in reform and regulation on environmental matters thereby making the government more responsible on environmental issues. In most cases, it is believed that reforms and regulations lobbied by the environmental laws are in the interest of the environment and the wellbeing of the citizens and not individual interests. Various researches cite the effectiveness of environmental laws and reform as response environmental problems to empowerment. That is, it offers “environmental groups and networks” such as the National Resources Defence Council NRDC the ability and opportunity to consider the environment as a wider entity (Miller and Spoolman 2012, p. 636). In addition governments and international organizations have propagated environmental reforms and legislation through the NRDC thereby remaining neutral on such matters. For instance, NRDC is responsible for creating a livelihood that does not deplete or cause harm to the resources that are required to support life on Earth. Secondly NRDC is charged with the responsibility of sorting a court injunction on environmental issues especially that are considered to threaten life. Some of the successful interventions that NRDC has attained included creating an agreement among the environmentalists, Canadian timber companies, Canadians citizens and the government of Columbian in 2001. This agreement helped protect the entire region of Great Bear Rainforest from the logging that NRDC perceived was going to destroy the rainforest completely. Similarly, NRDC became hand in 2005 when it empowered the US citizens to oppose the government’s policy that was had given an ok to sewage operators to damp untreated mess into the American rivers, lakes and streams (Miller and Spoolman 2012, p. 636). Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Greenhouse gas emission is considered to be one of the greatest problem that the world has experienced in the past and is still threatening life due to its effects on the Ozone layer and the world climate. Owing to the magnitude of threat associated with greenhouse gas emission, governments and international organizations have often responded to climate change and other environmental problems perceived to be associated with greenhouse gas emission by adopting measures aimed at reducing such emission. Some of the strategies that are being utilized by nations and international organizations to reduce greenhouse gas emission include; Organizations: Countries and international organizations have assigned specific department the mandate to put in place strategies to realize green environment. Initially such responsibility either did not exist or was not considered as a duty (UNEP 2012). This meant that very little was being done to prevent environmental emission. However, countries and international organizations such as the UN have presently made such process an effective response to the environmental problems by assigning greenhouse emission reduction responsibility to a particular department or unit within the government thereby making it focus on specific duties and goals. Targets and Focus on Travel: In order to respond to the call to reduce greenhouse gas emission, countries and international organizations have come up with specific targets and time frames within which they are to reduce the emission rate. According to UNEP (2012), such response aims at fulfilling the 50-85% of the greenhouse gas that is to be reduced by 2050 as per the Panel on Climate Change (PCC) report of 2007. In fact the same report cites that most countries have responded to the move by setting 2 to 3 years target on greenhouse gas reduction. On the other hand, governments and international organizations recognize that most greenhouse gas that is being emitted to the atmosphere originate from travel (UNEP 2012). They have therefore focused on the transportation industry in order to enact strategies that could reduce emissions originating from travelling. For instance, people are being encouraged to use public transport, bikes, and free repair works for situations that require local travelling. At the same time, most governments are encouraging the use of tele-and video-conferencing for cases that entail extensive travelling as a mechanism to reduce travels. Facilities: Facilities is a critical component of various plants and often determine the extent of energy consumption as well as emission rate. Therefore governments and international organizations have continuously encouraged organizations and firms to either upgrade or buy new equipment (UNEP 2012). Such measure reduces the rate of greenhouse gas emission by making the plants more energy efficient. Moreover, new equipments for heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning are being developed and are postulated will not only reduce greenhouse gas emission, but also enable firms to save greatly. Conclusion and Recommendations Environmental issues are being perceived as global problems. As such, States and international organizations have always taken such issues seriously and taken appropriate measures in an attempt to combat the atrocities resulting from them. For instance, it is natural that any form of pollution whether water or air do not have boundaries; soli degradation in one place might lead to dependency of one State or reduction in supply to another country. Such states confirm the role of the environmental and how important it is for States and international organization to engage in environmental conservation. Nonetheless, developing countries and developed countries face varied environmental problems because of the variation of the causal agents of such crisis. Although most of the strategies that have been adopted by governments and international organizations alike seem to be effective to some extent, much still needs to be done if at all environmental problems are to be addressed effectively. Actually environmental problems are still eminent and frequently confront humanity despite the effort made by governments as well as international organizations. In my opinion, appropriate response to environmental problems requires a collaborative effort and not just continued recycling and use of eco-friendly products among other measures to combat environmental problems. Therefore individuals, governments, and international organizations need to collaborate and influence environmental policies for effective environmental management. In addition, individuals should adopt a practice of managing the environment right from the local level; the neighbourhood, schools and workplace before progressing to the national and global entity. Nations and international organizations should shift their focus on environmentally friendly societies. Such strategy requires all stakeholders to cooperate, coordinate and commit to adopting sustainable societies. In other words, various groups and nations need to understand and accept the fact that every component of the Earth is interdependent just the same way the human culture relies on both politics and economy for its wellbeing. Corporation of various groups and nations would enhance an environmentally friendly society by; preventing and minimizing environmental issues as opposed to allowing such problems to accumulate in the surrounding. Secondly, corporation between nations and groups will ensure that the society uses an appropriate and recommended marketplace solution for various environmental problems. The aim of such goal is to help curb environmental problems before they become havoc to the society. References Assembly of First Nations 2008, First nation’s perceptions of environmental issues: Study on areas of importance, Accessed http://www.afn.ca/uploads/files/fn_perceptions_enviro_health.pdf Barr, S 2008, Environment and society: Sustainable, policy and the citizen, Ashgate, Burlington, VT. Cudworth, E 2003, Environment and society, New York, NY: Routledge. Chasek, PS, Downie, L & Brown, JW 2010, Global environmental politics, Westview Press, Boulder, Colo. Dryzek, J & Schlosberg, D 2005, Debating the Earth: The environmental politics reader, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Hulme, M 2009, Why we disagree about climate change: Understanding controversy, inaction and opportunity, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: UK. Miller, GT & Spoolman, S 2012, Living in the environment, Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning, London. United Nations 2012, United Nations documentation: Research guide, Accessed http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/resguide/specenv.htm#environmental United Nations 2000, Convention to Combat Desertification. accessed 20.4.2012 http://www.unccd.int/Lists/SiteDocumentLibrary/CST/Ad%20hoc%20panel_Report%20COP4_CST_4.pdf UNEP 2012, Moving towards a climate neutral UN: The UN system’s footprint and efforts to reduce it. Accessed 23. 4.2012. http://www.unep.org/PDF/PressReleases/MTCNUNfullversion2012.pdf Read More