Effective Connectivity between Sustainable Development and Human Security - Literature review Example

Effective Connectivity between Sustainable Development and Human Security Customer Inserts His/her Name Customer Inserts Grade Course Customer Inserts Tutor’s Name 25/05/2011 Introduction Effective protection and preservation of the natural environment and environmental institutions at all governance levels, must take into account the link between the economic and social issues and the problems facing the environment. Through the assistance of different international regimes as well as other law bodies a balance is created between pillars of sustainable development that include, social, economic and environmental matters. This essay evaluates the importance of essential connectivity between sustainable development and human security. Dwived (2001) argues that climatic changes currently being experienced have serious adverse effects on animal and human life. Because of the negative impacts, the global changes in climatic conditions have been a major concern for many nations and organizations. Global warming is one of the effects of climate changes and it is believed to a great extent that it is the major causal factor of hurricanes, windstorms, among other disasters. Change in climate is as a result of both anthropogenic and natural factors (Ronald, Hester, Roy & Harrison 2003). Though not much can be done to prevent the harmful effects resulting from factors of natural climate changes, a lot can be done to control the stress resulting from anthropogenic contributors. In order to ensure a productive and healthy land and ocean environments as well as account for long term impacts, there is a need to properly account for the effects of changes in climate and their causes to be determined (James & McCarthy (2001). Determination of the cause helps individuals and other bodies involved in environmental management activities to come up with amicable solutions. Environmental degradations resulting from anthropogenic activities are likely to continue into the future if control measures are not established at the moment. This has a meaning that the problem of climate change is likely to increase in the near future. Changes in climatic conditions results in increase in temperatures posing a great challenge to human survival (Stephen 2005). Weather patterns are affected by global warming and this is the major reason for increase in the intensity and frequency of disasters that are related to weather. Anthropogenic disasters resulting from civil strife, wars and chemical spills pose a great danger to the life of mankind and have long term effects on the climate (Ronald, Hester, Roy & Harrison 2003). Though all regions in the world are affected by changes in the climate, the effects in the less developed countries is higher. The less developed countries experience more human life losses and economical problems. In such nations major man-made and natural disasters cause complex humanitarian emergencies that negatively impact socioeconomic development. This results in the affected nations demanding for international resources which are rapidly diminishing (Dwived 2001). Human security is directly affected by the environment. According to James & McCarthy (2001) people’s lives will be safe if the environment is well managed but if poorly managed then their lives are under threats. People aim at bettering their lives by using environmental resources. This can only be realized if the environment is well conserved. A balance should be established between sustainable development and human security. Having a balance between the two ensures that all of them have a well being and none of them suffers or gains at the other’s expense (James & McCarthy 2001). Effective Connectivity between Sustainable Development and Human Security Climate change is as a result of both terrestrial and extraterrestrial factors. Several models give an indication that in the near future, the planet’s temperatures will rise. Global warming which is caused by changes in the climate result due to complex anthropogenic interactions. Changes in radiation and water balance on earth are due to extensive deforestation (Ronald, Hester, Roy & Harrison 2003). Increase in fossil fuel usage, urbanization and industrializations are the main anthropogenic drivers of climate changes. The animal and human lives will face both short and long term serious effects due to rising sea levels and global warming (Stephen 2005). The earth’s climatic history has continuously been determined by the natural processes; however human processes in the recent past have emerged as the key drivers to climatic changes. Natural processes take millions of years to occur, for example disasters caused by movement of continental tectonic plates, volcanic eruptions and celestial bodies impacts like asteroids (Ronald, Hester, Roy & Harrison 2003). The natural processes rarely impact the changes in climate for along period. Though they take millions of years before they occur, some of them like continental plate movements result huge losses. They cause earthquakes which break down buildings, cause tsunamis, landslides which cause property and life loss (Stephen 2005). The industrial contribution of carbon dioxide gas is a key driver to climate change, and compared to the natural processes it is more rapid and is not cyclical. It relentlessly and continuously pushes the climate in one direction of change which is warming (Trevor 2009). Other key drivers include: land use changes, hydrocarbon emissions and carbon soot, and albedo variations. The rise in emission of CO2 from industrial activities is the main factor determining the present and future climatic conditions. Developed countries have clear information on the negative environmental impacts of the emissions of greenhouse gases but because of the need of realizing more economic growth they continue emitting them. The international communities should ensure that there are reductions in the greenhouse gas emissions which significantly contribute to changes in the climate. For example if the rate of the world’s emissions of greenhouse gases continues unchanged, a 6.2 mm/year rise of the sea level will occur by the year 2100. But if the emissions are stabilized, the sea level rise could be cut by 3.2 mm/yr in 2025 which represents a 50% cut (James & McCarthy 2001). Both national and international authorities need to collaborate in limiting the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. National governments through political actions change regulations and laws which relate to changes in climate to make them effective in fighting the problem (Neil 2008). The changes include, tax incentives, limiting emission of greenhouse gases, establishing a framework for regulating markets for carbon trading. They also use media and public attention on matters of changes in climate. National government in a way to curb the adverse effects of climatic changes carry out campaigns for environmental management. This is done through direct lobbying, and publicly shaming those acting against the environmental management policies (Ronald, Hester, Roy & Harrison 2003). International communities are not left behind in environmental management initiatives. Several organizations so as to collaborate and effectively manage the environment come together and form a coalition (Trevor 2009). For example a coalition called Stop Climatic Chaos was launched in September 2005 in Britain with an aim of dealing with climatic changes (Stephen 2005). International organizations carry campaigns that pressure governments to act and support environmental management activities. The international policy framework sets limits for emissions of harmful gases into the atmosphere for the most developed countries. Policy makers should adequately respond to energy challenges, by determining how to secure supplies, encouraging efficient energy use by consumers and industries, sustain both human development and economic matters and at the same time protect the environment. Hans, Wolfgang, & Cramer (2006) claim that in order to meet environmental and social priorities, governments in both the energy producing and importing nations must have in place effective legal as well as regulatory environmental measures. They also need consistent policies on pricing and taxation and transparent processes, which encourages partnerships in both private and public sectors in energy infrastructure development (Ronald, Hester, Roy & Harrison 2003).. Countries should diversify their policies on energy so that they minimize dependence on fossil fuel energy source. In this regard they should develop alternative energy sources like, nuclear energy, hydro and natural gas. Transport fuel should also be diversified to biofuel, natural gas, and liquefied petroleum gas among others (Neil 2008). The energy intensity in economic matters should be reduced by countries through use of, production, building, transportation and electric patterns that are eco-efficient (Trevor 2009). This is to be attained by enacting legislative measures that ensure that energy is used in an efficient way. Subsidies should be provided for technologies on energy efficiency (Bert 2001). Under the Kyoto protocol, parties that are committed to it have targets for reducing or limiting their emissions. Every party has a level of allowed emission which it should not surpass (Ronald, Hester, Roy & Harrison 2003). But in developing nations, their emission levels are in most cases lower than the limit level set. In well developed nations their emission levels are always very high and may at times surpass the set limits. In this regard the developing country’s inability to reach the limits sells the excess capacities to countries with the capability of going beyond the limits (Khagram 2003). The establishment of the emission trading systems was aimed at bringing down CO2 emissions and the targets of Kyoto be attained at lower costs. Justification of the emission trading system on environmental grounds should be done. While implementing the system, it is very considerate on economic issues and has less consideration for environmental goals. Few countries are on paths to attain the targets set by Kyoto. In order to meet the reduction requirements of Kyoto, many of the countries have to seriously reduce their emissions in the second phase. James (2009) says that the efficiency of the system weakened because most of the countries shifted their obligations of reducing emissions to non- trading nations. The shift was done without creating a clear mechanism of ensuring reductions in nations that are non-trading. In this system economic efficiency suffers lack of harmonization, simplicity and transparency. Effective environmental management can only be achieved if all the stakeholders interacting with the environment are involved in environmental management initiatives (Trevor 2009). The stakeholders include individuals, scientific communities, governments, and media, NGO’s among others (Neil 2008). All these have a vital role of shaping the policies and other systems of management hence making a secure and sustainable environment. They facilitate cooperation between various states through negotiations that lead to agreements, information sharing, policy decision making, financial and technological resource support (Khagram 2003). They encourage and sponsor policy reforms and changes, support research activities, disseminate and collect information on environmental matters. They highlight problems facing the environment, their causes and the preventive measures. They then present their findings to conventions for discussions. Having carried out research concerning the environment and the society’s needs, they channel the demands of the society to the conventions for responses. They monitor and implement international agreements. With a need of economical development, countries are involved in activities that cause environmental crisis due to unsustainable consumption and regulation (Ronald, Hester, Roy & Harrison 2003). These countries and their big corporations inhibit the entire world from reaping benefits of its resources hence cannot realize economic growth. Duffield (2007) suggests that due to this fact, an equitable framework must be developed to ensure that all countries transit to sustainable development (Trevor 2009). Laws governing sustainable environmental management are uniformly applied in all countries. Since environmental degradation activities of a single country can adversely affect many other countries worldwide, the activities are stopped regardless of the political resistance of the country. John (2003) views that in order to command commitment and confidence; institutions should enjoy the legitimacy of both their member states and that of the international community. A close and complex relationship exists between human security and the environment. The access that people have to the natural resources and their vulnerability to changes in the environmental conditions describe the human security. According to (Bloem 2006) human conflicts and activities directly or indirectly affect the changes in the environment. Efforts of protecting nature are unlikely to succeed if these efforts are not simultaneously carried out with advancement of human betterment. Bert (2001) suggests that efforts of bettering people’s lives will fail if they do not conserve, enhance resources that are essential and other life supporting systems. In this regard all the stakeholders should ensure that there is a balance between human security and sustainable development hence none will suffer or gain at the expense of the other (Trevor 2009). Sen. (1999), claims that officials and public agencies in developing countries have an obligation of promoting sustainable security and development in their countries. Handling this issue is a bit challenging to them because of the insufficient capacities and resources. However the government is supposed to support them in changing contextual conditions and enhancing their understanding of what they are supposed to do (Neil 2008). For the government agencies in developing countries to emerge successful, they should join as well as support coalitions involved in change and be transparent and accountable in their operations and this mainly is exercised to the most deprived and insecure individuals (Ronald, Hester, Roy & Harrison 2003). Authorities involved in positive changes should be encouraged to be innovative and inventive and for any positive achievements should be rewarded. Because developing nations are faced by challenges of having inadequate resources of supporting measures aimed at achieving sustainable security and development, they are supposed to focus on strengthening activities and building of state rather than exclusively giving support to non-governmental organizations (Dwived 2001). To attain sustainable development and security, coalitions of change and multiple champions are needed. Various stakeholders are needed to achieve this as indicated by evidences. The stakeholders include: community based organizations, world trade organizations, private sector firms among others (Trevor 2009). They should operate at various levels both locally and globally in championing for positive changes. This is not an indication that all stakeholders are champions of positive changes but their increased support is needed in building the changes. The international organizations like the United Nations so as to attain progress in attaining sustainable development and security should directly involve historically disempowered and disenfranchised groups and individuals as members of coalitions championing for change (Khagram 2003). Success by organizations championing for positive changes can be achieved if they don’t operate independently (Stephen 2005). In this regard they should increase their connectivity with all the stakeholders which will help them have a better understanding of the complexities of the matter. In improving governance systems efforts should be placed on interlocking several institutional arrangements sets to mutually reinforce them (Ronald, Hester, Roy & Harrison 2003). In order to increase the responsibility and accountability of corporate in sustaining environment, universally acceptable reporting standards should be established. In this regard all corporate in any country will produce reports of sustainability (Sen 1999). Governments should manage the environment in a politically safe manner which will provide entry points to communities and individuals to participate in making decisions about their own security as well as development. This should take place even in political regimes that are very restrictive (Khagram 2003). The way environmental matters are held should offer neutral and non-threatening grounds that the poor communities and people can build their voices and actively participate in planning projects, designing and implementing them. Duffield (2007), views that good governance is necessary for achieving sustainable security and development. The sets of rules, norms, policies, institutional arrangement among others should offer environments that are conducive for all champions of positive change to execute their duties. The institutions through the governmental support should establish effective connectivity between sustainable development and human security. Corell & Betsill (2001), view that the political influences and other managerial systems should be relatively flexible which will allow individuals to communicate, detect, and use new and changing information and knowledge in improving the practices. James (2009) argues that legitimacy in the institutions should be increased through transparency in participation and accountability of various stakeholders and this applies mostly to the most disempowered and deprived (Trevor 2009). The political advocacy networks have a mandate of ensuring that those forming a coalition will enhance development and security and make it more sustainable and human (Khagram 2003). However that seems impossible, the authorities should adhere to it and in the medium term it will be probable and even unquestionable and natural in the future. Organizations and individuals should exercise practical openness and political will in promoting human security and sustainable development (Bernd 2005). Conclusion A cautionary approach should be taken by the government in order to assess risks and problems caused by changes in climate. So as to appropriately mitigate the adverse impacts, action response plans by the international authorities must be established, advocated and implemented. International treaties about greenhouse gas emissions must be adhered to (Hans, Wolfgang, & Cramer 2006). Climatic changes result from both natural and anthropogenic activities (Trevor 2009). Most of the changes are due to anthropogenic activities because they are more frequent and rapid compared to those caused by natural processes. Emissions of greenhouse gases, urbanization and industrialization are the key anthropogenic factors that cause climatic changes (Duffield 2007). Emission of the greenhouse gases is responsible for the increase in the intensity and frequency of disasters related to weather (John 2003). A short and long term risk evaluation on the potential disasters needs to be done along the overdeveloped coastal areas of the world in order to protect both property and human life. International organizations and unions should cooperate in mitigating disasters through disaster education, awareness and preparedness. According to Bernd (2005) both national and international authorities need to collaborate in limiting the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The environment should be treated with a lot of integrity and should be recognized as a critical issue (Trevor 2009). Development efforts are likely to be undermined if the environment is ignored. Overdependence on environmental resources leads to resource depletion. This means that the economic growth that countries were realizing due to the resources will not be available. Exploitation of resources should not deplete them but sustain them for future use (James 2009). Sustainable development can only be attained if all the stakeholders are involved and should operate at various levels to bring positive changes. Issues concerning environmental management cannot be handled independently by an individual or a single nation. Collaboration between various groups must be enhanced. Both the local and international communities and organizations have a role to play in ensuring that all countries in the world adhere to environmental policies. Given that the matter is a global issue all countries must be governed by uniform international laws (Corell & Betsill 2001). Flexible rules should be enacted by countries that will allow innovativeness and creative thinking among the stakeholders on how to manage the environment in a sustainable manner (Sen 1999). The government should support institutions by establishing effective connectivity between sustainable development and human security. References Bernd Hansjürgens, 2005, Emissions trading for climate policy: US and European perspectives, Cambridge University Press. Bert Metz and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Working Group III, 2001.Climate change 2001: mitigation: contribution of Working Group III to the third assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.Volume 3 of Climate change 2001: contribution of Working Group to the third assessment report of the intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Cambridge University Press. Bloem Renate, 2006, “Unfinished Business: Effective Partnerships for Human Security Corell, E and Betsill, M.M, 2001,’A comparative look an NGO influence in the International Environmental Negotiations: Desertification and Climate change’, Global Environmental Politics,1(4):86-107 Development and Sustainable Development” DPI/NGO Conference, 2006, Development and Human Security. pp. 15-37. New York, 6 - 8 September 2006Development.’ Journal of Human Development Vol. 4, No. 2. Dwived, O. P., 2001. ‘Sustainable development and Canada: national & international Governing the world of peoples,’ Polity, p. 111. Duffield Mark. R, 2007, ‘Development, security and unending war: and Sustainable Hans J. Schnellnhuber, Wolfgang P. Cramer, 2006, Avoiding dangerous climate change, Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change, Cambridge University Press. James J. McCarthy, 2001, Climate change 2001: impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability: contribution of Working Group II to the third assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Cambridge University Press. James, Helen, 2009, ‘Security and Sustainable Development in Myanmar,’ Volume 11 John T. Hardy, 2003, Climate change: causes, effects, and solutions, illustrated, reprint, John Wiley and Sons. Khagram, S, 2003, From the Environment and Human Security to Sustainable Security and Development, Journal of Human Development Vol. 4, No. 2. Neil Leary, (2008), Climate change and adaptation Earthscan climate, Neil Leary, Earthscan. Ronald E. Hester, Roy M. Harrison 2003, Royal Society of Chemistry (Great Britain), Sustainability and environmental impact of renewable energy sources. Royal Society of Chemistry. Sen, Amartya, K., 1999, Beyond the Crisis: Development Strategies in Asia’ Sustainable Development and Human Security, pp. 15-37. Stephen R. Carpenter, (2005), Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (Program), Scenarios Working Group Ecosystems and human well-being, Volume 2.The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment series Ecosystems and Human Well-being, Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (Program), Island Press. Trevor M. Letcher, 2009, Climate change: observed impacts on planet Earth. Trevor M. Letcher. Elsevier Read More

Human security is directly affected by the environment. According to James & McCarthy (2001) people’s lives will be safe if the environment is well managed but if poorly managed then their lives are under threats. People aim at bettering their lives by using environmental resources. This can only be realized if the environment is well conserved. A balance should be established between sustainable development and human security. Having a balance between the two ensures that all of them have a well being and none of them suffers or gains at the other’s expense (James & McCarthy 2001).

Effective Connectivity between Sustainable Development and Human Security Climate change is as a result of both terrestrial and extraterrestrial factors. Several models give an indication that in the near future, the planet’s temperatures will rise. Global warming which is caused by changes in the climate result due to complex anthropogenic interactions. Changes in radiation and water balance on earth are due to extensive deforestation (Ronald, Hester, Roy & Harrison 2003). Increase in fossil fuel usage, urbanization and industrializations are the main anthropogenic drivers of climate changes.

The animal and human lives will face both short and long term serious effects due to rising sea levels and global warming (Stephen 2005). The earth’s climatic history has continuously been determined by the natural processes; however human processes in the recent past have emerged as the key drivers to climatic changes. Natural processes take millions of years to occur, for example disasters caused by movement of continental tectonic plates, volcanic eruptions and celestial bodies impacts like asteroids (Ronald, Hester, Roy & Harrison 2003).

The natural processes rarely impact the changes in climate for along period. Though they take millions of years before they occur, some of them like continental plate movements result huge losses. They cause earthquakes which break down buildings, cause tsunamis, landslides which cause property and life loss (Stephen 2005). The industrial contribution of carbon dioxide gas is a key driver to climate change, and compared to the natural processes it is more rapid and is not cyclical. It relentlessly and continuously pushes the climate in one direction of change which is warming (Trevor 2009).

Other key drivers include: land use changes, hydrocarbon emissions and carbon soot, and albedo variations. The rise in emission of CO2 from industrial activities is the main factor determining the present and future climatic conditions. Developed countries have clear information on the negative environmental impacts of the emissions of greenhouse gases but because of the need of realizing more economic growth they continue emitting them. The international communities should ensure that there are reductions in the greenhouse gas emissions which significantly contribute to changes in the climate.

For example if the rate of the world’s emissions of greenhouse gases continues unchanged, a 6.2 mm/year rise of the sea level will occur by the year 2100. But if the emissions are stabilized, the sea level rise could be cut by 3.2 mm/yr in 2025 which represents a 50% cut (James & McCarthy 2001). Both national and international authorities need to collaborate in limiting the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. National governments through political actions change regulations and laws which relate to changes in climate to make them effective in fighting the problem (Neil 2008).

The changes include, tax incentives, limiting emission of greenhouse gases, establishing a framework for regulating markets for carbon trading. They also use media and public attention on matters of changes in climate. National government in a way to curb the adverse effects of climatic changes carry out campaigns for environmental management. This is done through direct lobbying, and publicly shaming those acting against the environmental management policies (Ronald, Hester, Roy & Harrison 2003).

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