Global Warming and Its Political Implications - Coursework Example

Global warming and its political implications Introduction Global warming has become one of the major environmental issues today. Global warming cannot be considered as a natural disaster. It’s a man made disaster that has emerged as a major issue of concern of human civilization at the present time. In the last twenty years scientific knowledge has led to the realization that anthropogenic, human-made actions has been responsible for the changes on global climate. Those changes are a consequence of the emission and accumulation of greenhouse gases on the atmosphere. Life on Earth is made possible by the energy received from the sun. Almost thirty percent of sunlight is reflected back by the outer atmosphere. The rest of the reach the earths surface, as infrared radiation and is then carried by air currents. Greenhouse gases such as water vapour, carbon dioxide, ozone, and methane delay the radiations’ escape into space. Greenhouse gases are about 1 per cent of the atmosphere. Still they act like a cover around the Earth, like the glass roof of a greenhouse, trapping heat. This keeps the planet 30 Celsius degrees warmer than it would be otherwise (Understanding Climate Change: a beginners guide to the UN Framework Convention and Climate Change). Human activities are increasing the natural levels of those gases, by emitting carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels such coal, oil, and natural gas; methane and nitrous oxide produced by agricultural activities and changes in the use land use; and by some industrial gases that do not occur naturally but are long lived in the atmosphere. These changes are taking place rapidly. If emissions continue to grow at the present levels, the concentrations of carbon dioxide will double those from pre-industrial levels during this century. It is quite easy to ignore the scientific information about the effect of green house gases, but the evidence of green house gas effects in the form of global warming has become so overwhelming that these effects cannot be ignored. Global warming has started to affect the life of people across the world in significant way. In the report published by United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate in 2007 sufficient evidences were presented to prove that huge amounts of carbon dioxide and other green house gases, mainly created by various human activities, are continually warming the earth’s surface (“Climate Change 2007 Synthesis Report”). The impacts of global warming are not limited to health or environmental effects only. Global warming has some broader political implications also. At the present time although the real effects of global warming is not being felt largely, the constraints that several governmental policies of most of the countries across the world have imposed on numerous kinds of human activities are causing several problems. For example cultivation has been prohibited in the buffer zone and core area of the sanctuaries and national parks in India and many tribal villages have been evicted by the law of the forest department imposed for the protection of flora and fauna. In many countries there are many environmental constraints for establishing the industries. That would cause the problem of food shortage and unemployment, migration of people and overcrowding in cities. That might cause political instability within a country. Moreover, sometimes disputes emerge between neighbouring countries regarding the distribution of the ownership of common environmental resources. In this context the question arises whether environment may be the cause of political conflict between two countries. Global warming can be held responsible for various political disputes among countries, security problems, resource wars, mass starvations, civil violence, several kinds of humanitarian disasters, problems related to migration, etc. All these issues are considered as some of the major political implications of the overwhelming problem of global warming. The paper seeks to make an attempt to discuss various political implications of global warming and how the issue of global warming, which has become much of a politically issue rather than a mere environmental problem, can be politically dealt with. Political implications of Global warming: Although few people still regard global warming as not a very alarming issue and think this problem can be handles efficiently by making some environmental programs only, it would be quite foolish to pay inadequate attention to this grave issue of the present day. The ongoing change in global climate, in fact, is one of the most important challenges that the human civilization of the present time is facing. It has widely been accepted by the scientists as well as the country leaders across the globe that global warming is a real phenomenon and change in climate by some extent is inevitable. So the time has come to stop arguing over whether climate change is real or not, and to put focus on its deleterious consequences. Climate change is increasingly being treated as a major catalyst that has played and is still playing an important role in causing several political conflicts among states, or among countries. Climate change has led to various international and civil wars over the ownership and distribution of resources. Secretary-General of United Nations Ban ki-Moon has regarded global warming as the primary cause of the political conflict in Darfur. Along with United Nation General secretary, Home Secretary of great Britain Mr. John Reid had also pointed towards global warming as the major driving force behind the violent conflict in Darfur. He said that “"[Environmental] changes make the emergence of violent conflict more rather than less likely. The blunt truth is that the lack of water and agricultural land is a significant contributory factor to the tragic conflict we see unfolding in Darfur. We should see this as a warning sign." (“Did global warming cause a resource war in Darfur?”). Climate change has atarted to be widely regarded as “a threat multiplier for instability” (“The New Myth about climate Change”). Pentagon once published a report on the climate change and in the report it had argued that disputes over scarce resources under ongoing climatic change would soon take the form of dominant political violence. It is being widely expected that rising water level of sea, more frequent natural disasters like flood, tsunami, cyclone etc., increasing range of tropical diseases in terms of geographical coverage as well as types of diseases, shortage of fresh water will lead to sever conflicts among countries, even among states within a county, over scarce resources. Disputes between the haves and the have-not are expected rise significantly. Several studies have highlighted the possibility that the ongoing climatic change that is making the world warmer could spark resource wars. Some of the studies have predicted wars over water and several other problems that can be caused due to rise in sea level. In Darfur, drought cycles, which have become increasingly regular have diminished the availability of essential resources like water, arable land and livestock. These have created immense tension among people and these tensions ultimately have resulted in rebellion. (“Did global warming cause a resource war in Darfur?”; Global Warming Will Spark War.) However, some people are not ready to accept the view that resource scarcity under the condition of global warming will led to political disputes and resource wars. Many studies, in fact, show that instead of resource scarcity, it is actually the abundance of resources that would lead to conflicts among nations or states. (“The New Myth about climate Change”). Under the present circumstances, it, however, would not be very wise to ignore the threats of political conflicts that global warming is expected to give rise. Increasing threats of disputes and wars posed by climatic change also threaten the security of the countries. Traditionally, people’s understanding of the terms ‘security’ is based on the idea of a sovereign state, which has secure borders against the world outside its own periphery. (Houghton, 232) However, global warming along with increasing level of industrialization, communications, trade etc., have widely been ignoring these borders and posing a great threat to internal security of nations. Michael T. Klare "It may well be that the most costly and challenging consequence of climate change will be an increase in violent conflict and all the humanitarian trauma this brings with it.” (Klare, 355) One of the very recent wars have been fought over oil issue. In future, more wars can take place if nations keep on loosing their scarce resources as a result of climate change. These wars will pose immense threat to the security aspects of the nations. Threat of wars also increases with increasing number of environmental refugees. (Houghton, 232) A task force developed by the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) and the Centre for Strategic and International Studies of U.S.A have conducted a study on the possible impact of global warming on the life of people and they came to the conclusion that the on going change in climate will negatively influence global stability, which in turn would practically destabilize almost every aspect of modern life. The increasing temperature, which is causing sea levels to rise, is expected to cause large-scale migration of people both within the boundary of the nations as well as across national borders. Increasing level of droughts in several parts of the world and melting of ice in the Polar Regions are considered to be the Main driving force behind this large-scale movement of population. According to some study, “The more severe scenarios suggest the prospect of perhaps billions of people over the medium or longer term being forced to relocate, which stressed that any mass migrations will almost certainly trigger sharp increases in regional tensions and increasingly draconian efforts by wealthier countries to prevent migrants from crossing their borders.” (“ENVIRONMENT-US: Global Warming Is Biggest Security Threat”). Deleterious effects of climate change on food production in drinking water coupled with several political disputes over the ownership of resources have immense potential to force the people currently living in African and Southeast Asian Countries to move out of these countries and migrate to countries in Europe or to America. Another study conducted by a senior U.S. military officer reported that increasing levels of sea and shortage of fresh water, particularly in African countries, countries in Middle East, and South and South East Asia would lead to severe internal conflicts, a shift towards radical ideologies and extremism which would in turn pose a great threat not only to the security of these countries but also to the securities of the countries in the West. (“Global Warming Is Biggest Security Threat”) Under the circumstances of increasing resource wars, intra-state and inter-state conflicts, increasing security treats, the number of failed states is expected to rise. Increasing number of governments will break down in the face of wars, conflicts, weakened capabilities of states to deal with these situations and increasing volume terror acts and criminal activities major done by the native rebellion as well as immigrants. In the face of food shortages due increased amount of droughts and floods and other natural calamities driven by global warming, people of most of the countries, particularly in underdeveloped countries are subjected to mass starvation that could take place in near future if proper policies are not taken by the governments. This mass starvation will automatically make people angrier, more violent and consequently make situation worse. (“The New Myth about climate Change”). Possible solutions: In the face of increasing threats that global warming is posing before the governments, time has come to become more serious about the alarming issue of climate change. Without adding up much fuel to intrastate or inter-state was or conflicts, it would be wiser to put much focus on the policies that could help mitigate these problems. During devising any plan to reduce the degree of negative impacts of climate change on people’s lives, the policies that immediate come to any policy makers mind are always concerned with the methods that should be utilized to reduce emission of green house gases. Most of the time sufficient attentions are not paid on how deal with resource shortage and avoid any conflicts assuming the fact that climate change to some extent is almost inevitable. But attentions are required to place simultaneously on the reduction of emission levels and reduction in the amount of disputes over resources. These problems can be politically dealt with in various ways. The solutions should be global in nature and comprehensive. The following steps can be undertaken by the politicians to reduce the level of emission of green house gases. 1. First, efforts have to be undertaken to avoid all those activities that results in emissions of hazardous gases into the atmosphere. 2. Second, wide attention has to be paid on reducing the consumption levels of fossil fuel and encouraging people to use alternative environment friendly energy sources. 3. Third, huge investment has to be made in the producing renewable sources of energy, like water, wind, bio-fuel, solar and other sources. 4. Fourth, sufficient attention should be paid on improving the quality of fossil fuels and efficiency of machines in reduction of the level of emissions of hazardous gases. 5. Fifth, measures have to be taken to promote non-polluting industrial system. 6. Sixth, transport system should be improves and the new system of transport should provide an assurance that they are efficient in the emission of pollutants in the air. 7. Seventh, urban planning needed to be redesigned. (“POLITICAL SOLUTIONS FOR ENERGY AND INDUSTRY POLLUTION HARMING THE STARLIGHT”) Apart from all the steps taken by the nations individually, time has come to develop a global political solution to the wide range of problems created by global warming. The Kyoto Protocol and the quota system implemented by the European Union are the first step towards providing a political solution to the problem of global warming on a global basis. But more ambitious measures are needed to deal with the alarming issue of global warming. Countries like U.S.A. and China are held to be responsible for the highest level of emissions of CO2. These two nations therefore have refrained from signing the Kyoto Protocol. Therefore, the protocol is not capable enough of reducing emission by significant level. The countries that have signed the protocol are capable of collective reducing only 31 percent of total CO2 emission across the entire world. On the other hand the quota system also not able to cover significant portion of global emission of CO2. It has been found that only 7 percent of global CO2 emission has been covered by the quota system developed by the EU. (“Global warming”) Although U.S. has refused to sign Kyoto protocol it is not that it has not undertaken any measures to deal with the issue of current climate change. U.S. policy makers are actively working towards reducing the threats that have been posed by global warming to U.S. as well as the whole world. The policy makers are planning to take the following steps in near future: First, U.S. government wants to establish itself as a role model for the other countries to follow in the field of reduction in the emission levels. U.S. has well recognized their historical role as the world leader to act decisively towards reducing emissions of toxic gases into the air. U.S. is planning to set a target of 30 percent reduction in emissions by 2020. The politics regarding climate changed have hugely changed in U.S. in recent years. Earlier, around a decade ago, Americans used to question the reality of global warming. (Purvis, 9) Second, U.S. Government is planning to negotiate a number of new agreements on a global basis with an aim to ensure that other major emitting countries are also taking fair actions. Developing countries like China, India, Brazil etc., are found to be locked in normative principles and hence burden of actions automatically come on the shoulders of the developed nations. U.S. is planning to take some measures to distribute the burden more or less equally. And in this case, they are even ready to financially assist the developing nations for taking adequate measures to reduce emissions. (Purvis, pp.11) Third, U.S. planers are also aimed at spurring international cooperation in the field of research and development of clean technologies of energy generation. U.S. has already spent a huge sum of money in the domestic R&D in the area of energy. The government wants to increase the volume of R&D by 5 to 10 folds in near future. The government is also trying to form international research partnership, and create a committee on clean energy research.(Purvis, 14) Fourth, U.S. putting much attention on reducing security threats and several other national interests posed by global warming by providing help to the developing nations of Africa, Middle East, South and Southeast Asia for make then adapt to the consequences of global warming. (Purvis, 15) Conclusions: From the above discussion it can therefore be concluded that global warming has emerged as a major challenge. It is not only causing harm to environment, also destabilizing the whole world by bringing about huge instability in the modern life. To counter the threats posed by the current climate change steps has to be made with due attention. Every country should keep in mind that it is not a problem of any individual country, rather it is global problem. Therefore, this problem has to be dealt with by forming cooperation at an international level rather than engaging in wars or conflicts. If all the countries work together towards solving the problem of global warming, this planet will become a beautiful place to live in with healthy environmental, economical and political atmosphere. Works Cited 1. Houghton, John Theodore. Global warming: the complete briefing. Cambridge University Press. 1997 2. Braun, Josh. Did global warming cause a resource war in Darfur? 2006. retrived on 18th April, 2009, from www.mail-archive.com/pen-l@sus.csuchico.edu/msg16140.html. 3. Global Warming Will Spark War. 2007. http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/business/global-warming-will-spark-war/99 4. Global warming. Retrieved on 18th April, 2009 from http://www.dongenergy.com/EN/Responsibility/Climate/Global+warming.htm 5. Klare, Michael , T Global warming battlefields: how climate change threatens security. Current History, 106(703):355–361. 2007. 6. Klare, Michael T. Navigating the energy transition . Current history, 108:714. 2009 7. Lobe, Jim. ENVIRONMENT-US: Global Warming Is Biggest Security Threat. 2007. Retrieved on 18th April, 2009 from http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39927 8. Penacho , Jose Luis . POLITICAL SOLUTIONS FOR ENERGY AND INDUSTRY POLLUTION HARMING THE STARLIGHT. 2007. Retrieved on 18th April, 2009 from http://www.starlight2007.net/pdf/proceedings/JLPenacho.pdf. 9. Purvis, N. U.S. Global Leadership to Safeguard our Climate, Security, and Economy. 2008. Retrieved on 18th April, 2009 from http://www.globalproblems-globalsolutions-files.org/unf_website/PDF/2008_purvis_climatechange.pdf. 10. Salehyan, Idean. The New Myth About Climate Change. 2007. Retrieved on 18th April, 2009 from http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=3922. Read More