International Sustainable Development - Essay Example

International Sustainable Development Ongoing concern over the possibility and practicalities of climate change have prompted a variety of international resolutions and proposals in recent years. In regards to the question of sustainable development and a comprehensive plan to supply humanity with the resources without endangering the biosphere, a far-reaching proposal is essential. Effort must be devoted to devising an improvement schedule in terms of clean emissions which is fair to developing nations, and acceptable to developed countries. An uneven or imbalanced protocol intended to address climate change issues will be discarded if it cannot provide some advantage – or at least minimize disadvantages for industrialized economies. While there is general agreement that some action should be taken to avert the prospect of climate change (EPA, 2009; Bouët, 2010), the most powerful nations are reluctant to damage their economies over the mere possibility of ecological damage in the future. And if a proposal is not suitable to industrialized countries, then any global effort cannot succeed - because it is the industrialized nations that produce most of the emissions believed to be injurious to the climate in the first place. If a proposal is not acceptable to Russia, China, or the United States, then the potential pollution output of these countries would render global efforts at control essentially meaningless. Yet there are obstacles for developing nations as well. In countries with a limited industrial base and low employment then any opportunity for development is often seized upon as a source of badly needed jobs as well as potential tax revenue. A sustainable proposal that interferes with the prospect for attracting industry to an impoverished country runs the risk of directly threatening the peoples ability to feed and shelter themselves. If an individual in a poor country cannot feed his family today, then there is little incentive to worry about the possibility of harsher weather a hundred years in the future. And the prospect of short-term profits from a new factory becomes irresistible even if run off and emissions from that facility are potentially harmful to the climate in the long run. Therefore, any solution to the prospect of climate change must be global – and industrialized nation will undermine these efforts if their economic livelihood is threatened, and developing nations will resist such proposals if they deny the development of an economic base that can feed their populations. Attempts at such global measures have been attempted in the past, specifically with the Kyoto protocol. Serious analysis must be conducted to determine whether new proposals are needed, or a pre-existing one can be revised for greater appeal (Birnie et al. 2009; Bodansky, 2007). Modern measures of international significance must look for alternatives that allow development in a technological sense, yet always looking for ways to minimize environmental impact and the possibility of greenhouse emissions. The United Nations framework convention on climate change is the only international body able to propose and develop such proposals. The parties tasked with the development of the Kyoto protocol have an interest in refining their proposals to achieve greater degrees of acceptance; these modalities are described as procedures for a clean development mechanism. Some of these practical objectives are listed below: 1.) A systematized proposal for the evaluation of environmental impacts from future projects. 2.) The clarification and consolidation of regulatory decisions made in regards to clean development. 3.) Reforestation. Many of the consequences of heavy industrial development in terms of natural ecosystems could be averted through dedicated efforts to replant areas cleared of forests. In addition to sustainability practices involving dedicated seeding of new trees to replace those cut down for purposes of lumber, or urban expansion (UNFCC, 2008). In this manner, urbanization can continue... To an extent – and industries will continue (with necessary pollution controls) but dedicated efforts to regenerate the environment are important components in lessening the impact of industrial activities. In addition, incentives must be offered for compliance; this can take the form of carbon credits, or credits for Certified Emissions Reductions. This allows a give-and-take system whereby regenerative measures for environmental reclamation allow permissions for further development (PEW center, 2009). In terms of legalities, the United Nations is primarily working under the auspices of the Kyoto protocol and a dedicated special commissions. Prior to Kyoto, there were limited international efforts and legal precedents that the need for a far reaching environmental policy, primarily in the interest of sustainable human health. Prior to the 1970s, protection efforts were limited and utilitarian, but in 1972 progress was made in the form of the Stockholm declaration of the United Nations conference on the human environment. (Kiss & Shelton, 2007). This was the beginning of an active, global consciousness which sought to specifically limit environmental damages. In addition to Kyoto, there have been numerous United Nations panels and conferences on climate change in Copenhagen, Durban, and Rio de Janeiro (UNFCC, 2008). Sustaining and protecting the environment is a complex proposal whereby a failure in one dimension could lead to crisis in other areas. Hence there have been further developments in international law pertaining to environmental concerns that cover the protection of endangered species, as well as such issues as the movement and disposal of hazardous waste. Maritime pollution is also legally regulated, in order to prevent a tangential crisis that could eventually lead to environmental degradation from less obvious causes. But in terms of precedents strictly limited to climate change the precedents set at conferences in the cities listed above are the most influential. While United Nations conferences and legal principles are the most important in a global sense, there are other regional organizations international boundaries still capable of implementing a legal framework for the purposes of sustainable development. Another noteworthy multinational organization would be the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, founded in 1967. Its original purpose was the promotion of economic cooperation across Asian borders and the general welfare of the people in the region as a whole. While the initial founding principles were essentially economic in priority, this multinational organization has created agreements on the environment establishing a set of guidelines for member nations participating in the Association. ASEAN has created a series of environmental and disaster readiness guidelines pursuant to a commitment to promote environmental sustainability within their own region, but nonetheless an effort that crosses national boundaries (aseansec.org, 2013; CEC, 2006; CEC 2008). Similar regional examples would include the European Union with their various commissions on environmental policy. The European Union has set specific sustainability guidelines for all member states in a progressive format: there are benchmarks which must be met in accordance with a predetermined schedule required for membership within the union. Individual nations exert autonomy concerning how their specific, local affairs are ordered – but all must agree to work out with in member states a way to meet environmental benchmarks. Furthermore, the European Union has a special delegation to the United States with the intent of formulating trans Atlantic action plans in the mutual interest of both regions (Al-Riffai et al. 2010; European Council, 2009). In summary, there are numerous international organizations that have created regulatory bodies for the development of a legally binding precedents intended to address issues of climate change and sustainable development. The United Nations is the most important organization with international reach interested in moderating climate change, through various conventions intended to standardize sustainable development evaluation programs. The world body has the potential for mediating disputes between various interests with a stake in the protection of the environment, in a broad sense. In practical terms, a local initiative to promote sustainable development should seek to create on a smaller scale the principles outlined above from environmental treaties: 1.) Organization and standardization of environmentalist efforts. This is essential to prevent workers operating at cross purposes. 2.) Active reclamation. The simple act of planting trees is an immediate, practical method to avert long-term environmental degradation even as activists campaign for more responsible emissions practices. 3.) Credits. Larger schemes relating to carbon credits are devised by international organizations, but on the local level another proactive measure would be not only to call attention to potential sources of hazardous emissions, but also to give praise publicly to organizations and entities that demonstrate a positive track record. Until truly clean alternatives are widely available and efficient, there are considerable obstacles in both advanced nations and impoverished countries towards the active limitation of infrastructure development. Industrialized countries are reluctant to depress their economies, while developing nations may resist environmentalist proposals out of concern for immediate survival. For the time being, the European approach of progressive standards towards reduced emissions combined with proactive measures to regenerate environmental degradation are the most practical possibilities. References Al-Riffai, P., B. Dimaranan, and D. Laborde. 2010. 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Commission of the European Communities (CEC). 2008. Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Promotion of the Use of Energy from Renewable Sources. Commission of the European Communities, Brussels. Environmental Protection Agency. 2009. “Draft Regulatory Impact Analysis: Changes to Renewable Fuel Standard Program.” European Council. 2009. “Directive 2009/30/Ec of the European Parliament and of The Council.” 23 April 2009. Available at: http://www.r-e-a.net/documentlibrary/thirdparty/rea-and-fqd- documents/FQD_090605_Directive_200930EC_OJ.pdf. Accessed: 5/6/2013. Kiss, A.C., Shelton, D., 2007. Guide to International Environmental Law. Leiden; Boston: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. p.32. Pew Center on Global Climate Change., 2009. Clean Development Mechanism Backgrounder April 2009 Status Report. UNFCC., 2008. Clean Development Mechanism project standard. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Version 02.1 CDM-EB65-A05-STAN. Read More