The Environmental Problems - Essay Example

? Environmental Economics Environmental Economics An Environmental harm takes place each time there occurs an alteration in the quality or else the quantity of any given environmental aspect which holds both a direct and indirect effect on the health and the welfare of man in an undesirable manner.The global situation today is loaded with drought , famines concerns, floods and a lot of natural calamities which are all a resultant of the environmental problems which has affected all areas of the world both at a local and regional ground.And thus, calling for a war footing by all the environmental cooperations.The environmental problems at a global ground include the depletion of the natural resources,pollution of water,air,pollution by toxic chemicals , bio diversity loss, depletion of the ozone layer and the global warming among other issues. This paper therefore, focuses on the various environmental problems, the effect they have on our lives and the efforts that are needed to be incorporated by all bodies to ensure a reduction or even elimination of these issues via a corrective step or by integrating various proactive procedures (Gaikwad, 2011). A crisis that is brought about by the accelerated and possible irrevocably impacts of the human activities on the nature agitate for cooperative responses by the intercontinental institutions, governments and the whole populace as well. Governance has therefore, been in the forefront to try and meet the crisis brought about by the environmental problems in the world by their efforts to pool their various experiences and knowledge of the concerned agents and institutions (Gaikwad, 2011). But it should be understood that, the augmenting scales and the gravities of the environmental concerns that are in terms of climatic changes, depletion of biological diversity and deprivation of the ecosystem service threatens to block and likely attempt by various stakeholders including global markets and all the international corporations to reach a solution (Tata Motors, 2012). This aspect has therefore, played a major role in restricting some possible prospects of the economic progress in most regions and countries The environmental protection actions still remain inadequate in the warning face of the scientific community. The essential reforms indicate a sluggish process that necessitates a lot of diplomatic negotiations, time, energy and above everything money. An extremely serious environmental crisis has demonstrated its in capabilities in the generation of the unanimous reaction from all countries (Gaikwad, 2011). The persistence divisions among the global markets have played a major role in slowing down the advancement towards a suitable organized international environmental governance. Nature pays no attention on the social and the political obstructions and more so various environmental aspects which are meant for change that includes contamination and climatic changes that are indifferent to both borders and states. The international nature of the rooming environmental crisis tends to revoke out the outcomes of all the measures put in place unilaterally by any national body or a particular institution. This therefore, raises a greater need to formulate and apply lasting means for the inter-sector collaboration derived from a holistic perspective of sustainability. A feature of cooperation is needed between the actors and the organizations who are working on the environmental problems (Srinivas, 1999). Along the Montreal protocol to eliminate materials that diminish the ozone layer, it was identified that the stratospheric ozone layer act as shelter in the atmosphere which protects lives on planet earth from the harmful ultraviolet rays. Scientists therefore, observed that, the ozone layer was getting thinner every now and then. The Nations that are UN recognized have endorsed a treaty and are forging ahead to ban the production of the substances that destroy the ozone layer while also coming up with other ozone friendly options (US Environmental Protection Agency, 2012). Figure 1. Shows the Antarctic Ozone Hole. Source:Newman, 2012. (http://suppliers.tatamotors.com/Project_Docs/global_environmental_issues.pdf)   The above diagram is an indication of the various chemical reactions which involve the chlorine and the bromine. These chemical reactions makes the ozone in southern polar area to be damaged swiftly and in a severe manner. The depleted sections are referred to as the ozone hole. Figure 2. Showing Disparities in the Ozone layer. Source: Newman, 2012. (http://suppliers.tatamotors.com/Project_Docs/global_environmental_issues.pdf) The graphs above indicate the various disparities of the ozone yearly. The red bars show the huge area together with their minimum rates. The indicated fluctuations in various years are overlaid on the trend broadening over the past decades. It is therefore, the pride of the EPA ,to have participated in the extensive alliance that established and implemented elastic , innovative and efficient methods to see to it that that the ozone layer is protected (US environmental protection Agency, 2012). The impacts brought about by the toxic materials including trichloroethylene, the airborne soot and the ozone level can as well be termed as global prisoner dilemmas. Climate change and the energy securities are referred to as the the games of the prisoner's dilemma. Any country that tries to reduce these emissions incurs the full cost that pertains to the reduction efforts , but in return attains a very small section of savings derived from the reduced oil costs (Air Quality Monitoring, 2009). In the game of the prisoner's dilemma , cheating is said to be a dominant phenomenon and that it pays better than any other known tactic, despite the efforts of all other players in their efforts to curb the emissions. The strategy states that, if at all the other countries cooperate in the reduction of the emissions or else to curb the usage of the oil, it therefore, brings returns to enjoy a no cost ride on these countries’ efforts, concluding the idea of this dilemma that cheating pays. On the other hand, if all the countries cheat in their efforts to eliminate the carbon dioxide emissions, it would therefore, be in vain to waste the countries money and resources solving the global issues alone. In the real sense, attaining a cooperation using the game of prisoners’ dilemma is achievable but in the absence of the Gores Strategy (Global Energy Policy Centre, 2012). The issue of global warming is also discussed in the Games of prisoner's dilemma. Global warming demonstrates a disaster of commons, which involves the fate that transpires common resources. This dilemma indicates that if at all every country cooperate in the reduction of the gas emissions, climate change will be averted and everyone in the world will be satisfied. And if at all, all countries cooperate in the elimination of the gas eliminations and only one country fails, climate change will still be averted by all means and the failing country will be placed at a better economical edge. But if all countries fail and intensifies in their pollution practices, the prisoners dilemma states that, both the climatic changes and everyone suffers (Global Energy Policy Centre, 2012). We can never therefore, expect that both the developing and developed countries have an equal environment standard. The standards can thus, be reached by using their efficacy levels which can be lower compared to those of the developed countries as a result of their emission differences, the pollution adaptive abilities and their intensities of environmental partiality (Neumayer, 2001). It can be concluded that the developing countries can be said to be providing a pollution haven. This is due to their failure to implement their standards to be able to attract the foreign investments (Neumayer, 2001). In conclusion, it has been evident that most of the environmental concerns are brought about by the polluting processes of production, various ways of consumption and the mode of disposal of our waste products. It is also unveiled that, trade cannot be included to be the source of environmental degradation. Most of the degradation of our environment are a resultant of consumers and producers not being liable to pay for their actions. Both appropriate governance and accountability by the public are the most significant features in formulating a proper environmental policy which includes at the global level. An efficient international collaboration is significant in environmental protection, mostly in respect to trans-boundaries and the international environmental challenges. References Air Quality Monitoring.(2009). What are the most recent developments regarding environmental matters. Retrieved from http://www.newsbatch.com/environment.htm Gaikwad, M. (2011). Top 10 Environmental Issues. Retrieved from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/top10-environmental-issues.html Global Energy Policy Centre. (2012). Prisoners’-Dilemma and Public Goods Games. Retrieved from http://www.global-energy.org/international/games/public-goods Neumayer, E. (2001). Pollution Havens: An Analysis of policy Options for dealing with an Elusive Phenomenon.Retrieved from http://www2.lse.ac.uk/geographyandenvironment/ whoswho/profiles/neumayer/pdf/article%20in%20journal%20of%20environment%20and%20development%20(pollution%20havens).pdf Newman, P. (2012).Ozone Hole Watch. Retrieved from http://suppliers.tatamotors.com/Project_Docs/global_environmental_issues.pdf Srinivas, H. (1999). WTO Report: Enviromental Cooperation and Trade.Retrieved from http://www.gdrc.org/sustbiz/wto1.html. Tata Motors. (2012). A Brief Introduction to Global Environmental Issues. Retrieved from http://suppliers.tatamotors.com/Project_Docs/global_environmental_issues.pdf US Environmental Protection Agency. (2012). The Montreal Protocol on substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/ozone/intpol/ Read More