Environmental Issues

Why countries of the North and South disagree over international environmental politics and priorities

Over time, various world leaders and global bodies have been on the fore front in addressing the differences emerging from the north (developed countries) and the southern (developing) territories. However, it has remained adamant that these pleas has been falling on deaf ears since matters emerging from the south remain out of the agenda globally (environmental issues). The north and the south still remain in argument over issues like climate change and global warming. These problems are born from the integration of power leaning on the northern side and the under development of science in the south. Efforts of the south to address various issues in environmental meetings have met severe critics from their northern counterparts (Gutman 390). The lack of insufficient data has been a major setback for the developing countries in implementing a strong foundation for participating in decision making globally. For example the issue of methane in India and the environmental protection agency in the United States was not addressed accordingly. The EPA ruled against India because the capacity of its data was not sufficient to support its motion (Kandlikar  Sagar, 124).The following are some of the major arguments brought forward by the northern countries in their reluctant move for not addressing environmental situations

In accounting for important global needs, only matters present in all parts (north and south) will be assessed. This matter suppresses the south because it depends on these unique features for economic growth. These features include the tropical rainforests found in the south which continue to be worn out by dangerous emissions in form of gas from big industries in the north.

Difference in opinions on the various assumptions made. For example the impact of toxic substances produced by countries in the north is different between a healthy individual in a developed country and a nourished individual in a less developed country. Like in the case of sanitary and phytosanitary agreement the WTO ruled on assumption that all member countries were on support of the SOS agreement. Some countries lacked concrete evidence to oppose the proposed motion and entered in to the agreement blindly (Gutman 296).

Less or no contributions by the southern countries in global decision making. This has raised eyebrows in cases of biased decisions. The south claim that the north pass laws which rules on their favor. Kandlikar and Sagar in their report they indicated that

The lack of national scientific capacity weakens the position of developing countries in multilateral negotiations and their participation in the conventions. Not only do developing countries lack scientific input from their own researchers, but they also experience difficulty in coping with the masses of scientific and economic documents coming from the north (126).

Measures that actors involved in environmental treaty negotiations have undertaken to improve the North-South relations in international environmental politics

The United Nations economic and social council The United Nations is consistently putting efforts to try and curb big environmental problems affecting the developing countries. A kitty of 3.1 billion was has been put in place by the united nations development project, the united nations environmental project and the world bank in order to administer its environment programs effectively. The UN council is actively educating the developing countries on the need to invest in research to increase knowledge.

The European organization for the exploitation of meteorological satellites The major activity of Eumestat is recording, monitoring and measuring climatical conditions from the space. This is accomplished through the installation of satellite systems on the space which provide very clear and quality information to member countries. The reports from Eumestat are very effective and provide accurate information for member states to take relevance action towards the situation.

The main weaknesses to these measures are two. First the programs enacted by the UN encourage laziness in developing countries. These countries leave all the work for UN and even do not allocate funds to show interest in these.

The problem with Eumestat is that it is very costly for developing countries to erect these programs and sustain. The technology used is not available in developing countries and the service is only provided to member states.

The form of action to improve the north and south relationship
In order to achieve a permanent solution to this problem, the following four strategies need to be put in place by both parties

Improving the methods of data collection in the south- This will guarantee information is tabling their arguments against their northern counterparts.

Improving scientific knowledge and application skills in the south- This will form a solid foundation for baseline data to be used as back up in arguments in requiring evidence.

Encouraging the northern researchers to work in collaboration with the southern researchers- This will lead to sharing of knowledge and hence increase the level of knowledge in the south.
Increase the number of researchers and resources in the south- This will promote innovation in generating new scientific approaches towards matters relating to environmental research.

Chinas development and international environmental politics
Being a member of the g8, china is perceived to be a developed state. Recently china was recorded as the number one producer of the toxic carbon dioxide past the United States However china has put several measures in coming together with the world in rescuing the environment. In the current release of chinas eleventh five year plan, the chairman for the national development and reform commission Mr. Zang ping sated that

The Nation of China has implemented its National Climate Change Program, taking a series of strong policies, measures and actions and making unremitting efforts and commendable contribution to addressing climate change. China will continue such policies, measures and actions. In the face of international financial crisis, China remains determined to take unrelenting efforts to address climate change. As a Party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto Protocol, China is always committed to have the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol implemented.