Climate Change and International Relations - Essay Example

CLIMATE CHANGE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (Name) (Course (Tutor) (University) (City/State) (Date) Introduction The global Climate change has established both the national and international interest to establish the potential and attempt systems to mitigate the causes to reduce potential impacts. Substantially, although the uncertainties are on the decline, there are still challenges to the nature of instruments of climate change that are still associated with increased with the effect of the greenhouse, as an occurrence of human activity that lead to climate change. Despite all that, there are still scientific uncertainties in the causes of climate change that are directly linked to the human activities. Benjamin (2011) on climate change and international relations theory suggest the need to establish an international relationship that factor in international policies to address the challenge of climate change. Climate change is a global issue. Therefore, no county or state can act independently to substantiate or influence the climatic conditions. The need for international relations is, therefore, important in overcoming the collective goods challenge. The purpose of this research is to look at the effort that is taken into consideration the theoretical and international systems deployed by states and countries in an effort to address the issues in climate change. The Theory of Climate Change And International Relations Various theories have been developed to explore the wider relationship between the global climate change and international relations. International concern for climate change exhibit features of liberalism, realism, and constructivism. The three theoretical assumptions, which are also based on critical theory, best describe the impact of climate change to the environment, society, and economic activity (Joyeeta, 2010, 46/95). International relation theory and climate change on the environment can be attributed to political implications on issues to do with the degradation of the environment curtailed by the appreciation humanities is bound by the limitation of ecological systems. Breaching of these ecological systems would lead to economic and social catastrophes. The catastrophes are future predicaments and warning on the challenges that develop over a long period. According to Millennium journal of international studies, 1996, environmental degradation is considered as a security threat, considering the increasing sophistication and emphasis that is exclusive to issues on climate change. In conjunction to that, the major issues of climate change are the continuous depletion of the ozone layer and rise in temperature that is becoming significant for international affairs. The interest has seen the establishment of international relations to hold debates on multilateral environmental agreements within the global context of international regimes (Moran, 2011, 67). Scholarly monographs to include the complexity of climate change and international relations have created the expansion of multi-theoretical action of international relations on environmental issues. The dominant hypothesis or theory in the study of international relations in based on realism. The preference for realism theory is preferred in the study of climate change and international relations due to the insight in the regulatory international and interstate conflicts, which cannot be disproven with the existing historic records (Berkes, 2012, 162). The elements of realism meet the assumptions of the operation of international relations in an effort to address climate change. Realist observes sovereign states as the key players in creating international relations among other states and countries to address the issue of global climate change. If the states fails to act on uniting the human race in every political boundary, there will be an absence of supreme authority hence leading to insecure systems that breed a struggle between countries for power. According to the National Research Council (U.S.). (2010), the struggle, therefore, cannot lead to a successful implementation of policies and guidelines that are aimed at ensuring the successful implementation of climatic change mitigation strategies. Considering the aspect of complexity theory of international relations, the two states are not on one page of co-evolution and adaptation to address changes in climate as their main concern is trade. China, for example, is not in a position of adapting and transforming the internal and external environment in which it operates. The argument is that the adjustment is concerned with the transformation of the whole system or part of the system that will reflect on the complex systems that keep essential structures within the recommended limit (Luterbacher, 2001, 42). The practical interpretation of realism theory is evident between the United States of America and China. The two states have been in opposition that has created countermeasures and self-filling oracles concerning the conservation of the environment. The struggle has created resistance in the implementation of regional environmental policies on pollution control and restoration of degraded habitats due to human actions. The quest for power influences the tendency for regional and international resistance and inflame environmental security dilemma, which in turn consolidate the alliance agreements. The difference between China and United States of America can be treated as defensive realism, which assumes the revolutionary international systems with an objective of providing incentives for acceptable environmental behaviors (Brainard & Sorkin, 2009, 173). Moreover, offensive realist put emphasis on intrinsic suspicions that exist in international relations. In this case, other states cannot be convinced by the action of the competing states or countries when it come to the implementation of environmental policies on conservation and sustainable development. A good example is between the developed and developing countries and states. Most developed countries are considered the most contribute to global warming. The contribution is brought about by the number of industries releasing carbon compounds that deplete the ozone layer. Additionally, the developed countries using chemical weapons during war are also contributor to environmental degradation and global climate change. Countries that do not engage in these activities consider it offensive and oppressive when contacted that they should take part in contribution towards fighting climate change. Trade is considered the backbone of global economy (Newell, 2007, 39). Therefore, the third world countries are also in a constant effort to bring change through industrial revolution, to which some of the industries contribute to global warming. The second theory on climate change and international relations is addressed by liberalism. Compared to realist theory, liberals observe climate change and international relations in an optimistic term. Liberals see international relations as the only approach that can be taken to help address and resolve the issue of climate change. The theory has a strong belief nations are in a position of transcending environmental conflict by specifying the influence of international institutions, economic interdependence and by adopting the liberal political system (Brack, Grubb, & Windram, 2000, 97). Global organizations such as United Nations Environmental Program to adequately reinforce policies that look into environmental sustainability. Politics has been realized to be having a major influence in the implementation and reinforcement of environmental policies. Therefore, through politics, issues to do with climate change can be tackled and be used to develop strategies that help in managing climate change (Berkes, 2012, 183). The liberal international relations and climate change is based on institutionalism, democratization, and economic interdependence. Considering democratization, there is declining security with the impact of climate change. There is an increasing social unrest due to food insecurity and natural disasters, hence putting pressure on the government to look for international donors to help calm the situation. Climate change is also establishing a shift in international investment and regional development. Liberalism suggestion is that, investment be shifted from areas that are vulnerable to climate change to regions that are less sensitive or are more carbon efficient to help curb the impact of climate change. Contrary to that, constructivism theory argues that international relations does not take an active role in balancing issues to do with environmental degradation and climate change, however, it is a constructive social norm that influence the activities that lead to climate change. The constructive predicament on climate change and international relation is that every region or state must re-evaluate their interest and overcome the cultural and historic burden (Piguet, Pécoud & Guchteneire, 2011, 61). The regions must come to terms and re-evaluate the factors that lead to climate change and put aside their interest and work on ways of improving and sustaining the environment. Considering the economic challenges, most industries have not adopted the concept of constructivism due to the traditions, cultural and past conflicts with other states. This is a clear implication that there is still competition in the implementation of international policies on environmental sustainability. Emilians (2007), Cambridge Review of International Affairs deduce that the effect of climate change has caused competition and aggression in the acquisition of raw materials. The resources are becoming scares, but the industries are still struggling to remain productive in the economy. The competition is increasing pressure and international security that combine the already established socio-economic weaknesses. The theory can be linked to the Marxism, which the hypothesis suggest that the wealthy states have a major effect in influencing the policy rules that are meant to conserve and restore the degraded environment. The fact is that the industrialized states or regions cause more impact on climate change compared to countries that are still underdeveloped. Because of this, the developed states influence the establishment of rules and policies that is applied to both the regions despite the differences in the degree of pollution. Despite all that, the Marxists theory advocates for leadership between the environment and industrial development in the international debates. Mapping Causes and Effect Of Climate Change The primary cause of climate change is entirely blamed on human activities on the earth surface. These activities are the ones that is causing conflict between the environment and mankind. The cause of climate change in a particular ecological area or region is a function of two variables. The first variable is the outcome of the population and the physical activity per capita in which the community take part. The second variable is based on the ecosystem vulnerability to the human activity being carried out. The activity per capita is the functional physical activity and the available resources, which include both the renewable and non-renewable resources (Thomas and Homer, 1991, 194). Unsustainable development and over-exploitation of environmental resources are the contributing factors to climate change and increasing international conflicts. The effect of climate change to the environment, such as environmental degradation and natural disasters, force people to migrating to other regions. The migration is the result of conflicts and ethnical classes as people compete for the scarce resources. According to Homer and Thomas on the threshold, – Environmental change as a cause of acute conflicts, developing countries are more prone to suffer more on the impact of climate change as compared to developed countries. This is because the third-word countries have inadequate resources such as finances, intellectual resources, and materials to help them deal with the challenge. According to Eric, (1996) on Emancipating International Relations Theory, Environmental degradation that results from climate change can affect traditional practices such as hunting game and using firewood as fuel. Continuous harvesting of timber and wood lead to exploitation of the resources hence causing conflicts as people compete for the remaining scarce wood fuel. Therefore, it is important for international organizations to address the social effects of environmental and climatic changes as one aspect that cause social conflict (Berkes, 2012, 93). The social conflict is extended to the international relations among countries as the industrialized states look for raw materials from the third world countries. For example, trade on wildlife trophies is considered illegal activities that destroy wildlife as natural resources. However, China, which is a signatory to the treaty, is still engaging in the importation of elephant tusks and rhino horns from Africa. The effect of climate change is also evident in the agricultural products. Unpredictable rainfall patterns and high temperatures have contributed to the decline of agricultural products. The impact is making the affected countries build a relationship with other countries so that they can get donations and relief to compensate for the loss (Grasso, 2010, 163). Therefore, climate change can be described as a unifying factor among nations despite it resulting in competition for resources in nations. As the initial farmlands are degraded, people are currently encroaching on natural habitats that are still productive to produce crops (Thomas and Homer, 1991, 53). This call for international bodies to help in mapping and protection of natural habitats so that the effort of environment protection and managing climate change can be achieved. Conclusions Climate change is a global and individual concern that should not be left to international bodies such as United Nation Framework Convention on climate change (UN FCCC). Every nation is supposed to develop policies and rules that ensure the issue of climate change is well addressed and strategic measures put in place to manage the impacts Moran, 2011, 158). The conservation policies should be developed at an international level so that states and nations can have a common goal of addressing the climatic challenges. In a wider sense, international involvement in modeling the impact of climate change is needed as it will bring on boards adequate courses related to human contribution global climate change and opportunities to be applied in combating the issues. Reference list Benjamin H. 2011, climate change and international relations theory: Northeast Asia as a case study. Australia, La Trobe University press Berkes, F., 2012. Sacred Ecology. Routledge Brack, D., Grubb, M., & Windram, C. (2000). International trade and climate change policies. London, Earthscan. Brainard, L., & Sorkin, I. (2009). Climate change, trade, and competitiveness is a collision inevitable? Washington, D.C., Brookings Institution Press. Emilian K., 2007, Cambridge Review of International Affairs, Vol 20, No. 3. Rutledge. Available from http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ccam20. Last visited 29th june 2011. Eric L., 1996, Emancipating international Relations Theory: an ecological perspective. Journal of international studie. Vol 25: 53 pp. 53-75 Grasso, M. (2010). Justice in funding adaptation under the international climate change regime. Dordrecht, Springer. Joyeeta Gupta. (2010). Mainstreaming Climate Change in Development Cooperation. Cambridge University Press. Luterbacher, U. (2001). International relations and global climate change. Cambridge, Mass. [u.a.], MIT Press. Moran, D. (2011). Climate change and national security: a country-level analysis. Washington, D.C., Georgetown University Press. Available from http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=678587. Last visited 16/9/2012 National Research Council (U.S.). (2010). Advancing the science of climate change. Washington, D.C., National Academies Press. Newell, P. (2007). Climate for change: non-state actors and the global politics of the. Cambridge, UK, Cambridge University Press. Piguet, E., Pécoud, A., & Guchteneire, P. F. A. D. (2011). Migration and climate change. Paris, UNESCO Pub. Thomas F. and Homer D., 1991, Environmental changes as a cause of acute conflicts. Internatioanl security, Vol 16, No. 2, pp 76/116. Available from; http://www.jstor.org/stable/2539061. Last visited 17/10/2010 Read More

The elements of realism meet the assumptions of the operation of international relations in an effort to address climate change. Realist observes sovereign states as the key players in creating international relations among other states and countries to address the issue of global climate change. If the states fails to act on uniting the human race in every political boundary, there will be an absence of supreme authority hence leading to insecure systems that breed a struggle between countries for power.

According to the National Research Council (U.S.). (2010), the struggle, therefore, cannot lead to a successful implementation of policies and guidelines that are aimed at ensuring the successful implementation of climatic change mitigation strategies. Considering the aspect of complexity theory of international relations, the two states are not on one page of co-evolution and adaptation to address changes in climate as their main concern is trade. China, for example, is not in a position of adapting and transforming the internal and external environment in which it operates.

The argument is that the adjustment is concerned with the transformation of the whole system or part of the system that will reflect on the complex systems that keep essential structures within the recommended limit (Luterbacher, 2001, 42). The practical interpretation of realism theory is evident between the United States of America and China. The two states have been in opposition that has created countermeasures and self-filling oracles concerning the conservation of the environment. The struggle has created resistance in the implementation of regional environmental policies on pollution control and restoration of degraded habitats due to human actions.

The quest for power influences the tendency for regional and international resistance and inflame environmental security dilemma, which in turn consolidate the alliance agreements. The difference between China and United States of America can be treated as defensive realism, which assumes the revolutionary international systems with an objective of providing incentives for acceptable environmental behaviors (Brainard & Sorkin, 2009, 173). Moreover, offensive realist put emphasis on intrinsic suspicions that exist in international relations.

In this case, other states cannot be convinced by the action of the competing states or countries when it come to the implementation of environmental policies on conservation and sustainable development. A good example is between the developed and developing countries and states. Most developed countries are considered the most contribute to global warming. The contribution is brought about by the number of industries releasing carbon compounds that deplete the ozone layer. Additionally, the developed countries using chemical weapons during war are also contributor to environmental degradation and global climate change.

Countries that do not engage in these activities consider it offensive and oppressive when contacted that they should take part in contribution towards fighting climate change. Trade is considered the backbone of global economy (Newell, 2007, 39). Therefore, the third world countries are also in a constant effort to bring change through industrial revolution, to which some of the industries contribute to global warming. The second theory on climate change and international relations is addressed by liberalism.

Compared to realist theory, liberals observe climate change and international relations in an optimistic term. Liberals see international relations as the only approach that can be taken to help address and resolve the issue of climate change. The theory has a strong belief nations are in a position of transcending environmental conflict by specifying the influence of international institutions, economic interdependence and by adopting the liberal political system (Brack, Grubb, & Windram, 2000, 97).

Global organizations such as United Nations Environmental Program to adequately reinforce policies that look into environmental sustainability.

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