ETVT GLOB + IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT Flashcards
(3 cards)
1)ECONOMIC GLOB-
Enabled Green Tech Spread & Investment
Economic globalisation spread renewable tech like solar panels, wind turbines, and EVs through global trade and investment.
China’s growth from globalisation enabled it to dominate green tech manufacturing → this reduced global costs (e.g. solar cost fell ~90% since 2010).
FDI & tech transfer let developing countries skip fossil-fuel-based development and invest in renewables directly.
This has helped reduce emissions in some states and made green energy more accessible worldwide.
AGAINST: Drives Environmental Degradation
Globalisation increases industrial production via global supply chains → more manufacturing, transport emissions.
IEA: CO₂ from energy sector ↑ 50% (1990–2018) due to industrialisation & global trade.
Corporations relocate to countries with lax environmental laws → pollution, weak enforcement.
Examples:
Amazon deforestation (e.g. Brazil clearing rainforest for beef, soy) → biodiversity loss, CO₂ release.
Global demand for resources → overfishing, soil depletion, mining of non-renewables.
Judgement:
While globalisation enabled the spread of clean tech, it mainly promotes unsustainable industrial growth. Tech benefits are real but not enough to offset the environmental harm driven by global economic systems.
2) POLITICAL
Global Cooperation on Climate Change
Political globalisation led to collective action via IGOs (e.g. UN, Paris Agreement 2015).
Paris Agreement:
196 countries pledged to keep warming “well below 2°C”.
Required NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions) from each country.
Supported capacity-building in developing nations.
COP26 (2021): $100bn/year pledged by developed countries to help Global South adapt/mitigate.
AGAINST: Weak Enforcement, Limited Results
Paris goals are non-binding → states set weak targets or miss them without consequences.
US: Failed to meet 2025 target; even withdrew under Trump (2017–2021).
China: Still heavily reliant on coal, despite NDCs.
Ongoing tension between developed and developing countries:
Wealthy nations caused most emissions historically but are slow to fund climate adaptation.
$100bn commitment reaffirmed in 2021, but first promised in 2009 (COP15) → still not met.
Judgement:
Political globalisation built climate institutions but failed to enforce real change. National interest and weak accountability undermine effectiveness.
CULTURAL GLOBALISATION -
Global Environmental Awareness & Activism
Internet & social media spread environmental ideas rapidly → youth activism & global protest movements.
Fridays for Future (Greta Thunberg, 2018):
School strikes → millions joined worldwide.
Brought youth voices from Global South into climate debate.
Pressure led to stronger climate pledges by some firms and governments:
UN summits & COP26 saw increased calls for net-zero targets.
Firms like Amazon, Microsoft, Unilever set climate goals under public pressure.
AGAINST: Symbolic, Limited Impact
Despite protests, states & firms still prioritise economic growth over environment.
Greenwashing is common:
BP rebranded “Beyond Petroleum” → still invests heavily in oil & gas.
Protests had little impact on policy:
COP26 failed key activist demands (e.g. “phase down” coal, not “phase out”).
Climate finance still below $100bn goal.
Judgement:
Cultural globalisation spread climate awareness, but activism has limited influence over powerful state and corporate interests. Symbolic wins, but weak enforcement and systemic resistance remain.
