The ability of the planet Earth to reflect the radiation and heat it receives from the sun is severely damaged due to the excessive amount of greenhouse gases and pollution in the planets biosphere. The earths surface becomes warmer and climate conditions become extreme. It is an open secret that the Earth cannot anymore sufficiently sustain the needs of its inhabitants. Thanks to the effect of industrialization, commercialization, and globalization, that continuously drives the exploitation of natural resources and the environment the planets biodiversity is becoming steeper each day. The species of plants and animals gradually decrease as the human population explodes. The question is not about what humans can do to alleviate the effects or even to reverse the current condition. The problem is concerned with how governments could implement change. This is the basis for conducting international conventions about saving the planet involving several countries. Nonetheless, such gatherings are doomed to failure because each government pursue and protect its own interest. The recent Copenhagen Accord could be the best example.
The interest of developed countries like the United States, Japan, Australia and European countries, differ significantly from the interest of developing countries such as most of African and Asian countries. Primarily, developing countries would like to increase their economic growth through rapid industrialization. This could include turning agricultural lands and forests to commercial districts. It also involved producing more products and services, which could hasten the utilization of raw materials. The goal of developing countries is to become developed at the soonest possible time with the less possible cost. It is therefore impossible for developing countries to engage in the same measures that developed countries are willing to take to reduce global temperature and greenhouse gases. Jeff Tolefson from the Nature Magazine, mentioned that the disagreement in the Copenhagen Accord was caused by the goal set by developed countries regarding the 1.52 C limit on the global average temperature. The developed countries criticized China in their refusal to be open to external verification of its greenhouse gas emissions (Davey, 2009). The United States had refused to lower its green house emissions during the Kyoto Protocol (Pan-African News Wire). There is a wide belief among the developing countries that the developed countries owe a climate debt. Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping explained that it is the damage or the price on the damage that industrialized nation has caused the world (Pan-America News Wire). Di-Aping further assert that the developed countries are responsible for the current situation of the planet. He further argued that the developed countries possess the abilities, technology and know-how that can help the world (Pan-America News Wire).
The interest of developed countries is to protect its current economic state. It is a well-known fact that the successes of developed countries are achieved by sacrificing the environment. The United States, for instance, is considered as one of the most powerful nations of the civilized world. In conjunction, it is also the highest emitter of greenhouse gases. Thus, the United States had not been willing to compromise its economical success with the requirement and goals made in the Kyoto Protocol. Nevertheless, after experiencing the effects of global warming and climate change, the United States is now becoming an active participant in restoring the environment and reducing greenhouse gases. In fact, in June 26, 2009 The Climate Bill was passed in the Lower House. Nevertheless, according to Erich Pica, from the Friends of Earth organization, this bill is insufficient in the reduction of global warming emissions in the United States particularly because the emission reduction targets are inadequate (Obama and Environmentalists Video). Moreover, Pica also argued that the Climate Bill remove the Environment Protection Agencys power to regulate greenhouse gases (Obama and Environmentalist Video). Picas final criticism concerns the Climate Bills reliant on Wall Street to reduce global warming problems.
As illustrated, both developing and developed countries are concerned about the stability of their economic development more than sustainable development. It might strike as a selfish behavior or motive, but it is how humans naturally act. Achbar and Abbott, in the documentary film The Corporation, illustrated how humans selfishly exploit his environment and other humans to work towards his favor. Consumers would purchase products without realizing what was required to produce such output. Entrepreneurs and business people are only concerned about how much money they are making. This same principle applies to governments.
In the documentary it was stipulated that the moneymaking world would only be concerned themselves with the environment if it could generate income. Indeed, this had been a very enlightening idea. The failure of the Copenhagen Accord was largely caused by Chinas refusal to maintain the temperature targets for 2020.
Underlying assumptions could be made through inductive reasoning. China is currently a booming nation. The sleeping giant is slowly showing its ability to become a global economic power. China is also known as the leader in producing solar panels. Nevertheless, Chinas energy depends on burning coals, which emits large amount of carbon dioxide. Thus, reducing greenhouse emission would rob or reduce Chinas energy source.
In the film Ecological Footprint, there are suggestions regarding the use of renewable energy as a practice towards sustainable development. Renewable energy implies the use of natural resources that could be replenished in a very short period of time. The most prominent renewable sources of energy are sunlight, tidal waves, geothermal and hydroelectric sources. The use of renewable energy promotes a greener Earth as it reduces pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The technology to use renewable resources is already available. Isabel Galiana and Christopher Green agreed that the increase in research and development about the utilization and application of technology involving renewable sources instead of setting emission targets would be more effective and attractive to both developing and developed countries.
Most of profit oriented bodies and businesses would prioritize technological changes that would increase industrialization even the expense of the environment. In the video, Ethical E-waste Recycling, the improvements in technology were shown as fast changing. Accompanying the fast pace changes were also the high amount of waste or garbage that are dangerous to health. This was also discussed in the video The Corporation that highlights the different human and corporate activities that destroys the environment and causes several illnesses and epidemics.
As discussed above, governments are almost always dependent on the economic milieu. Any government would maximize its potential to grow economically. Income-generating assets would therefore be preserved. Short-term incomes are prioritized over long-term benefits.
The failure of the Copenhagen Accord only revealed that a common decision among governments is still impossible due to conflicting interests. Therefore, a common ground solution must not solely rely on government decisions, instead NGOs and nonstate actors must also be encourage to initiate programs and devise conditions that would require the use of sustainable technology while limiting the emission of greenhouse gases. International organizations like the United Nations, the WHO, the WTO, the World Bank, International Red Cross and the IMF could set conditions that would encourage a greener world. Although governments play a pivotal role in the regulation of greenhouse omissions, their incapacity to come up with a unanimous decision would only put the planet at greater risks. Thus, the participation of non-state actors in the research and development of sustainable technology could directly affect the ability of the international community to meet regime goals (Chasek et al.,). Furthermore, Chasek and colleagues noted that the international community has been able to negotiate an impressively large number of agreements to reduce environmental threats. This demonstrates the ability of international actors to affect the decisions of state actors. Chasek and colleagues further cited that there are environmental treaties that were completed and negotiated more quickly than with environmental treaties. Environmental treaties are usually concerned with limiting emissions or providing environmental control. Nevertheless, rules and laws are highly violated especially by large companies (Bakan, 2003).
Nonetheless, developed countries are not highly dependent on international and non-state actors as developing countries do, although these actors could influence their action. Most of the time, they are in control of these institutions. Thus, developed countries might be able to manipulate these non-government actors towards their favor. The institutions might be use to further exploit the resources available in developing countries.
Developing countries might feel pressured by non-state actors and international actors if they start to include several provisions that would require the use of renewable energy or the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Developing countries may not-at-all be able to follow the requirements set by International organizations. This could only become a burden to their current situation, especially if there are calamities or emergencies.
The mitigation of greenhouse gases has long been delayed. Developing countries are the ones who suffered most. The use of non-renewable energy generates greater tax or government profits. The use and expansion of research and development of renewable energy would increase expenses while decreasing government income. Therefore, governments would not simply agree to focus on sustainable development or to any type of approach that would more likely increase expenses and decrease income.
Simply waiting for governments to have a common agreement might take forever. Developed countries and developing countries each have their own goals and their own strategies in attaining those goals. Non-state actors and international actors are the only ones who have the capacity to influence governments to decide and act in respect or in accordance to their set standards or guidelines. Initiating research and supporting development to mitigate global climate change could not be possible if governments would work on their own, especially if there are no circumstances or authority that would inhibit them from pursuing their selfish desires.
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