if we can stop ozone depletion why can't we stop global warming
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Why Have the Successful Attempts to Govern the World’s Production of Chlorofluorocarbons Not Been Duplicated in Other Areas of Global Environmental Protection?TRANSCRIPT
Why Have the Successful Attempts to Govern the World’s Production of
Chlorofluorocarbons Not Been Duplicated in Other Areas of Global
Environmental Protection? Cities and Global Governance II:
Environmental Politics
ISA 2009: New York City
Charles LaffiteauUniversity of Texas at Dallas &
Dublin City University
Cities and Global Governance II: Environmental Politics
The issues surrounding the need to protect our global
environment have only recently come to light over the last fifty
years, dating to the 1962 publication of biologist Rachel Carson’s groundbreaking book,
Silent Spring.
Cities and Global Governance II: Environmental Politics
While govt. officials are aware of the problems caused by
environmental degradation and abuse, they are often reluctant
to take the steps needed to curb such abuses lest they offend
special interest groups i.e businesses and multi-national
corporations (MNCs)
Cities and Global Governance II: Environmental Politics
“As governments and consumers in (wealthier nations of) the global
North have restricted or banned a number of tobacco products,
pharmaceuticals and pesticides; global marketing (by MNCs) has created new outlets for these
goods in (developing countries of) the global South and Far East.” [1]
[1] Jan Aart Scholte Globalization. A critical introduction, (New York: St. Martins Press, 2000):213-214
Cities and Global Governance II: Environmental Politics
Environment NGOs have been moderately successful raising
overall global public awareness and in one particular instance,
pressuring most countries to sign an international agreement to
deal with the environmental issue of CFCs and ozone depletion.
Cities and Global Governance II: Environmental Politics
The ozone regime established through the 1985 Vienna
Convention and the 1987 Montreal Protocol was particularly successful initially, but less so more recently.
By 1997 world production of most ozone-depleting substances had fallen to 76 percent of the 1988
level.
Cities and Global Governance II: Environmental Politics
1. The limited number of uses for CFCs also weren’t considered essential in much of the world
2. DuPont scientists were able to develop an economically suitable replacement chemical (HFCs)
3. Only a few MNCs, operating mainly in the developed world, were producers of CFCs
Cities and Global Governance II: Environmental Politics
Unfortunately, progress on other environmental issues, such as cutting the CO2 emissions that
contribute to climate change, has been slow to non-existent in
most countries around the world.
Cities and Global Governance II: Environmental Politics
These factors add to the political complexities of regulating fossil fuel greenhouse gas emissions
1. Many essential uses (heat, plastics, transport fuel, electricity, fertilizer)
2. Few if any economical substitutes3. Many national & MNC producers
Cities and Global Governance II: Environmental Politics
CFCs-few essential uses-refrigeration and air conditioning systems
Fossil fuels-many essential uses-electricity, heat, jet & auto fuel, ag fertilizer, plastics
CFCs-economical substitutes-HFCsFossil fuels-substitutes are much more costly
CFCs-few multinational corporate producersFossil fuels-many nations as well as many
multinational corporate producers
Cities and Global Governance II: Environmental Politics
In the classical economics model, the search for and development
of economical substitutes for any product is driven by a need or a
desire by consumers and producers for lower cost
alternatives.
Figure 1: Inflation adjusted price of imported oil for past ten years vs 1981 peak
Figure 2: Inflation adjusted real vs. nominal price of imported oil past 30 years
Imported Crude Oil Prices: Nominal and Real
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Short Term Energy Outlook-January 2009
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Figure 3: Inflation adjusted real vs. nominal price of gasoline for past 90 years
Real Gasoline Pump Price: Annual Average 1919- 2010
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Short Term Energy Outlook January 2009
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Cities and Global Governance II: Environmental Politics
It is therefore hard to envision any international agreement to
regulate the use of fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas
emissions being as achievable or successful as the agreement on
ozone depletion, especially since the world's two biggest emitters, the US and China, have still not cut their outputs under Kyoto.
Cities and Global Governance II: Environmental Politics
Many countries in the EU have signed and ratified the Kyoto
Protocol but have actually made less progress cutting their rate of
growth in green house gas emissions than the oft-criticized US which, under President Bush,
has refused to ratify Kyoto.
Figure 4: Total EU greenhouse gas emissions in relation to the Kyoto target
Cities and Global Governance II: Environmental Politics
Given this lack of progress, some environmentalists have now
come to the conclusion that a more expeditious way to
address their environmental concerns might be through the
use of existing international agreements and public
international law.
Cities and Global Governance II: Environmental Politics
Currently, the only existing international institution within
the framework of public international law that is in a
position to mediate and adjudicate environmental issues and global trade disputes, is the WTO.
Cities and Global Governance II: Environmental Politics
“The WTO Appellate Body decision in the Shrimp-Turtles dispute actually strengthens
the right of the state to adopt conservation measures
(sympathetic to environmental NGO concerns) by a liberal
interpretation of ‘exhaustible natural resources’” [1]
[1]Tanyarat Mungkalarungsi “The Trade and Environment Debate” Tulane Journal of
International and Comparative Law, Vol. 10 (2002): 381
Cities and Global Governance II: Environmental Politics
My analysis of the WTO Appellate Body’s decision in Shrimp-
Turtles suggests that best allies for NGOs would be sympathetic
WTO member states that are both willing to implement trade
related environmental restrictions and also apply
these policies fairly.
Cities and Global Governance II: Environmental Politics
How do you persuade governments to be more
sympathetic to environmental concerns and to implement trade related environmental restrictions?
Cities and Global Governance II: Environmental Politics
Environmentalists should also concentrate on developing
relationships with their native country’s business and social elites.
If business and social elites can be convinced that there is an urgent
need for action, then they will make sure government officials
cooperate.
Cities and Global Governance II: Environmental Politics
What is ultimately needed?
An international institution such as a World Environment
Organization (WEO), with enough regulatory and
governance powers to protect society and the environment from the negative impacts of
climate change.