Challenges of Sustainable Development Final
MDGs (Millennium Development Goals)
(2000) Goal: to galvanize developed countries and aid organizations. Target: developing countries. 8 most pressing goals, idea that developed countries needed to do more to help developing countries. Critique: identifies developing countries as problem and developed countries as the solution, simplistic, unrealistic, ideologically driven.
Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs)
(part of Civil Society) ◦Domestic & trans-national groups ◦Key attribute of freedom and democratic governance ◦Funding: membership, foundations, private donors ◦Goals: can be a single issue or location-oriented ◦Tactics: raise awareness, mobilize individuals, spark social movements, serve as watchdog, litigate
Carbon tax
- A tax that the government charges polluters for each ton of GHG they emit - Doesn't limit pollution - Uncertainty about total emissions
Environmental Justice
- Fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income..... with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies
Collective Action
A collective effort by relatively powerless group using extra-institutional means to promote or resist social change.
Multi-National Corporations (MNCs)
A multinational corporation or worldwide enterprise is a corporate organization which owns or controls the production of goods or services in at least one country other than its home country.
Precautionary principle
- Foundation of enviro policy - Reminds us that when we are faced with scientific uncertainty, it's a statement that says we'll be cautious because the risk is so catastrophic. - (when a doctor tells you-you have 95% chance to get a heart attack, you don't leave and say yayy im good- you're being cautious.) - when there is uncertainty- behave cautiously, take action anyway.
Corporate sustainability
= an approach that is aiming to create long-term stakeholder value through the implementation of a business strategy that focuses on the ethical, social, environmental, cultural, and economic dimensions of doing business.
Links between poverty and climate change
BY 2030: (when temp. rises) 280 mil ppl will find their homes underwater. Additional of 100 million people in poverty (if no action will be taken to stand climate change). Food Crisis- due to crop losses. The risk of disease. a violent crisis over scarce resources. and the poor will suffer the most! because the poor are dependent on the land.
Geoengineering
Climate engineering, is the deliberate and large-scale intervention in the Earth's climate system, usually with the aim of mitigating the adverse effects of global warming.
(Intended) Nationally Determined Contributions
under the Paris agreement: each state will domestically make INDC --> and once they do it its NDC and not INDC anymore. For NDC, it's voluntary, so you can escalate the ambition every couple of years- and you report your contribution.
Common but Differentiated Responsibility
we have this problem called "climate change"- the problem IS common, BUT we have different responsibilities regarding this problem. also, the capacity to address the problem is different, different levels of ability to respond. It's both historic (how this problem occurred) and the abilities to cope with it in current times.
Clean Development Mechanism
← Under Kyoto Protocol - Allowed Annex 1 countries to implement reduction strategy in a non-Annex 1 countries and earn emission credit outside of own territory Criticisms: - Reinforces rich and poor statuses - Justice creating mitigation → redistribute wealth - Could affect minority groups at local level
International Monetary Fund
"189 countries working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world." ---- World Bank and International Monetary Fund requirements for loans:-Debt repayment-Export-led growth-Privatization-Free markets-Cut government spending ("fiscal austerity")
Elinor Ostrom
"Common Pool Resources": tragedy is not inevitable, governance tools can help manage commons, small-scale/bottoms-up governance..... 1990S: ELEANOR OSTROM, COMMON POOL RESOURCES
Paul Ehrlich
"The Population Bomb" · Neo-Malthusian: Population growth with exceeding food supply · Population growth will lead to violent conflict, instability, and famine · Views population growth as a direct threat to civilization · Solutions: Birth control, redistribution of wealth
Tragedy of the Commons
(1968) England had open access fields ("commons") which were exploited by people in self-interest. How rational behavior can lead to ruin. Even if you hold back from using the resource others still will meaning only you are paying all the costs.
Love Canal
(1970s) in NY - Hooker Chemical Company buried 21,000 tons of toxic wastes and sold land to the city - Became a rural low-income neighborhood.... elementary school & sub-division built on top of filled-in canal - Residents complained of odors - 1978: NY State conducted soil & air samples - Findings: increased rates of reproductive problems, birth defects - Love Canal Homeowners Association formed - Evacuation, clean-up, some homes demolished - Uninformed residents put at risk◦Profit motive is corrupting - Displacement of risk across time and space - Community organization is necessary to fight powerful interests - NIMBY
Millennium Development Goals
(2000 & adopted 2005) under Kyoto protocol. 8 goals made to mitigate climate change.
Green revolution
- Largely American driven and international institution driven. - Aggressive worldwide application goal: to increase yields through modern inputs - Important point: not increasing # of farms, increasing yields on same square acre of land/area. - Focused on these input types: Irrigation systems, Fertilizer and pesticides, New hybrid seed varieties. - Example input: Cereal yields increased (but only in developed countries.) Critique: - Dependency on US-made inputs: benefited US (think Monsanto.) - Traded one problem for a multiplicity of problems: 1. Countries/farmers in debt. 2. Countries/farmers became Reliant on these inputs. 3. Change in power/Unequal power dimensions. - Focus on export crops Mono-cropping Sub-Saharan Africa - Concern surrounding genetically- modified plants.
Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
- The nationally recognized group of scientists who agree upon are the implications of climate change, and what we need to do in order to adapt. (formulated by the UNEP & World Meteorological organization)
World Systems Theory
- Theory originated by Immanuel Wallerstein - Illuminated by his three-tier structure, proposing that social change in the developing world is inextricably linked to the economic activities of the developed world. -Explains why we didn't "develop together" Core & Periphery Countries - Core: Make iPhones and remain rich - Periphery: Export goods and remain stuck & poor (previously colonized countries)
Paris Agreement
- Treaty; flexibility to change NDC - Had every country build their own INDC (intended nationally determined contributions) - Agreement on 2 degree goal
Time Slice Principle
- only looks at a specific event/time throughout history - doesn't take into consideration of historical or future events
Historical responsibility
-Analyzing the moral significance of history when distributing the responsibility to act on climate change -Although many agree that history does have moral significance, the political struggle over how this should influence the responsibility to act is difficult
Sustainable Development Goals
17 goals adopted by the UN in 2015 to reduce disparities between developed and developing countries by 2030 - Set voluntary targets for global governance - States determine their own contributions; civil society and private sector also critical - UN functions as convener -provides technical support -administrative resources mechanisms of accountability - NOT A TREATY, NOT LEGALLY BINDING
Malthus (Theory) + Critique
1798: Birth rate grows unexpectedly (theory), and eventually we will run out of food. Critique: it wasn't exactly accurate, although birth-rate grew, death-rate was also high in pre-developed countries, families gave birth to a lot of children because there was a high Chance only two of them will survive.
Pinchot / Muir: Hetch Hetchy
1900: Brand new Yosemite National Park Gilford = - conservation - the greatest good- for the greatest time! - Forward-looking, rooted in the ideas of democracy and national resources. - advocated for the dam to be built and WON - resources are here for humans to use approach. John Muir = - preservation, not conservation - Founded the Sierra Club - Lived in the forest and believed that placing a dam in the middle of the park will ruin it. - advocated AGAINST the dam but lost.
Bretton Woods (in New Hampshire)
1944: After WWII, and as part of the international desire to prevent WWIII-- Agreements were signed that, after legislative ratification by member governments, established the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Meadows
1972: DONELLA AND DENNIS MEADOWS- projection for disaster, the realization of the finite supply of resources
Brundtland Report
1987: THE BRUNDTLAND REPORT. United Nations, "Our Common Future" report defined sustainable development as a three-legged stool: people, planet, profitInter-generational justice. Paradigm shift. Quote from the report itself: "sustainable development is a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs."
Planetary boundaries
2009: a group of scientists who wanted to define a "safe operating space for humanity". CRITIQUE: Scientific evidence for boundaries is inconclusive. Suggests human impacts are fine within boundaries "Safe operating space"? ans also, discourages action
Sub-state actors
= Local governments
Climate risk transfer pools
AKA "insurance" shifts burden of financial loss by spreading risks geographically • Part of the Absorb component in A2R (anticipate absorb reshape) • Climate risk pools + Social protection mechanisms = relative ability to absorb climate shock* (picture on slide 44)
Sovereignty
Ability of a state to govern its territory free from control of its internal affairs by other states.
The Resource Curse
Accountability of tax-paying citizens with their government diminishes when country is resource-rich. They may also have a reliance on exports of raw materials which leads to revenue volatility.
Multi-Lateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs)
An international environmental agreement or sometimes environmental protocol, is a type of treaty binding in international law, allowing them to reach an environmental goal. PROCESS: DRAFTING->ADOPTION->RATIFICATION-> IMPLEMENTATION example: Paris Agreement - When more than 2 sovereign states volunteer to make agreements 1. Drafting: states negotiate the content of agreement 2. Adopting: UN accepts text of treaty, states decide whether to accept it 3. Ratifying: signature by Head of State; Some states require vote of senate/parliament... Goes into force after certain # of states sign/ratify and thus is law for state parties 4. Implementing: parties develop, adopt, & enforce domestic law
Anticipate, Absorb, Reshape (A2R)
Anticipate -Need capacity to anticipate climate change risk - ex: early flood warning system, Dissemination/Communication (how to let everyone know?), etc Absorb -absorb shocks by increasing access to insurance Reshape - how we develop economy to reduce risk (long-term) -ex: conferences, outreach, etc to shift development pathway to reduce vulnerability -Effort to address PATH DEPENDENCY
Colonialism
Colonialism is the policy of a foreign polity seeking to extend or retain its authority over other people or territories, generally with the aim of opening trade opportunities. The colonizing country seeks to benefit from the colonized country or land mass. -Imposition of a state's will upon external territory - Colonialism can include: -settling in a foreign land, opening trading routes, enforced servitude of natives -the imposition of language, culture, government structures.
Compliance vs Effectiveness
Compliance - A state of conformity or identity between an actor's behavior and specified rule - An actor's behavior that conforms to a treaty's explicit rules (international context) - Did signatory states do what they said they would do? - Did parties enact domestic legislation to support treaty requirements? - Monitoring, reporting, tracking - Enforcement Effectiveness - The degree to which a given rule induces changes in behavior that further the goals of the rule - The degree to which a rule improves the state of the underlying problem - The degree to which a rule achieves its inherent policy objectives - Was the initial problem solved? - New information, updated science -Difficult b/c no world govt.... soft power, peer pressure, blacklist
Conservation & preservation
Conservation - the greatest good for the greatest number for the longest time; very forward looking; rooted in democracy and access to resources; human-centered (ex: Pinchot) Preservation - limited human use, protect landscape for its transcendental values (ex: Muir)
Distributive Justice
Distributive justice concerns the nature of a socially just allocation of goods. A society in which inequalities in outcome do not arise would be considered a society guided by the principles of distributive justice
Early Childhood Education
ECE is important because it disrupts the inter-generational transmission of poverty. and is considered the most important tool for human's development.
Equality v. Equity
Equity is giving everyone what they need to be successful. Equality is treating everyone the same. Equality aims to promote fairness, but it can only work if everyone starts from the same place and needs the same help. (Equity is needed to achieve equality)
Governance v. government
Governance - Formal and informal governing - Occurs in all sorts of organized societies - Can be done by non-governmental groups - Informal examples might include internal structures of companies with its own enforcement mechanisms - Support to governance can be provided by groups without power themselves like think tanks Government - Official organization with power - Has autonomy to enforce rules it creates - All citizens are bound by their decisions - Has a formally stated constitution - Typically refers to the governing body of a state
Green vs. Brown Environmentalism
Green - Ecosystem health - Long time horizons - Large spatial scale - Inter-generational equity - Educate people - Ex: wilderness protection, habitat protection Brown <-- Enviro. Justice tends to focus on this - Human health - Immediate - Mostly local scale - Equity across race & class - Work with people - Ex: clean air, clean water
Loss & damage
Impacts associated with Climate Change in less developed countries. Rich countries should compensate LDC for attribution to climate change. LOSS= negative impacts that can't be repaired. DAMAGE= negative impacts that can be repaired (Ex: Extreme events (like Tsunami) are easier to compensate vs. slow events like climate change that are hard to say when it started or who contributed.)
Imperialism
Imperialismis the idea that underlies the practice of colonialism
Indigenous groups
Indigenous peoples, also known as first peoples, aboriginal peoples or native peoples, are ethnic groups who are the original settlers of a given region, in contrast to groups that have settled, occupied or colonized the area more recently.
Examples of Global Environmental Governance (for SDG #15 Life on Land)
Institutions and MEAs that might contribute to achieving goal? 1. Convention on Biodiversity 2. Convention on Intl. Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna & Flora 3. Intl. Union for Conservation of Nature (ICUN)
Extreme poverty
Lack of basic services which is: food, shelter safety. The world bank definition is when you make less than a 1.25 a day.
MDCs & LDCs (More Developed Countries and Least Developed Countries)
MDC- More Developed Countries vs. LDC- Less Developed Countries.
Governance capacity
MDC- have more capacity vs. LDC- who have less capacity.
World Trade Organization
MISSION: to ensure that trade between sovereign states flows as smoothly, predictably, and freely as possible. Provides administrative support, technical assistance, dispute resolution. Enshrines system of multi-lateral negotiated trade agreements.
World Bank
Mission: End extreme poverty within a generation and boost shared prosperity. Three priority areas: -Accelerate sustainable and inclusive economic growth -Invest in people to build human capital, - Foster resilience to global shocks and threats -Project -based loans, grants, and investments - Offers technical support
States vs nations
NATION: a group of people who feel bound into a single body by shared culture, values, religion, language. STATES: Politically organized territory, Permanent population, Defined borders, Government, Diplomatic recognition.
Modern State System
New concepts: State sovereignty, Territorial integrity, Legal equality of states, Non-intervention of states in other states' affairs
Retreat & resettlement
When a shoreline retreats due to erosion or sea level rise, one option is to manage that retreat instead of attempting to prevent it. ... Hence, retreat increasingly refers to the relocation of people to higher ground and associated efforts to plan and manage that movement.
Cap & Trade
Pollution level is capped by allocating permits (you can only pollute an X amount of carbon), and you can sell your permits (trade them).. you can buy and sell permits. It can limit more emission caps once the system is in place. (similar to CDM: Annex 1 vs. Annex 2 countires)
Realism v. Liberalism
Realism - States are power seeking & self-interested, see the world as it is not as it should be. Sees the world as it is, not as it should be, States are the most important actors, the International system is characterized by anarchy, States pursue power, Human nature is imperfect, States are unitary, rational actors, Power is relative, not absolute, Neo-realism: considers system structure and polarity Liberalism - Countries work better when they cooperate, lead to better outcomes (IGOs set up bc of this) - Will only work through institutions and rules - The Liberal world order: a system built around the belief to facilitate global cooperation. -see the world as it should be, not as it is at the moment.
CAFE Standards
Regulates fuel efficiency in cars
Social movements
Social movements are groupings of individuals or organizations which focus on political or social issues.
Structural Adjustment
Structural Adjustment Programs (SAP) à Poverty Reduction Strategy. CRITIQUE: ■Privatization increases inequality■Social development ignored■Imposition of Western economic model■Violation of sovereignty
Community
a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common. a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
Technological Optimism v. Pessimism
TECHNO-OPTIMISM - the belief that technology can continually be improved and can improve the lives of people, making the world a better place. If you are a techno-optimist, you think technology has consistently improved our lives for the better and is likely to do so in the future. In considering societal problems, you think that the solution lies in technological innovation. Vs. ECHNO-PESSIMISM - a pessimist is likely to believe that modern technology has created as many problems for humanity as it has solved. The pessimist believes that seeking more technology is likely to bring about new problems and unforeseen consequences and dangers. Given that the pessimist sees technology creating its own problems, the answer to human progress often lies in a reduction of technological dependence, rather than an expansion of it
Patterns and rates of education
The Clean Power Plan was an Obama administration policy aimed at combating anthropogenic climate change (global warming) that was first proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in June 2014.
Kyoto Protocol
The US Signed but did not ratify because they felt the treaty was not fair -Annex 1 vs Non-Annex 1 countries had different responsibilities Annex 1: completion dates to change emissions Non-Annex 1: non-binding emission reduction targets Landmark global agreement - adopted in 1997, went into force in 2005
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that is concerned with international public health. It was established on 7 April 1948, and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
Environmental Racism
The placement of low-income or minority communities in the proximity of environmentally hazardous or degraded environments, such as toxic waste, pollution and urban decay Racial discrimination: - Environmental policymaking - Enforcement of regulations - Deliberate targeting of waste sites - Exclusion of POC from leadership
Malaria
The rising temperatures make perf conditions for mosquitos
Path dependency
The set of decisions one faces for any given circumstance is limited by the decisions one has made in the past or by the events that one has experienced, even though past circumstances may no longer be relevant.
Dimensions of the gender gap
There's progress in this field and the gap is shrinking throughout time. OECD countries mostly closed the gap in higher education.
Carbon Capture & Storage
Under geoengineering, capturing carbon and storing it somewhere. It is not a replacement for decarbonization. gov policy and the national corporation is still necessary. It's expensive and uncertain.
UNDP
United Nations Development Programme. Is the United Nations' global development network, which advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience, and resources to help people build a better life for themselves.
UNEP
United Nations Environment Programme. An agency of the United Nations coordinates the organization's environmental activities and assists developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices.
UNFCCC
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change - To stabilize GHG concentrations at level that prevent dangerous anthropological interference w/ climate systems - Outcome of 1992 Rio Earth Summit - 1994, Today 197 parties (including US) - Sets up Key Principle --> There's a common problem but different levels of responsibility
Capacity gaps and Capacity-building
a theme, that can mean a lot of things. BUT it really means governance capability, the ability to create and enforce a policy. In order to have a strong capacity, it needs resources, people, institutions, legal framework, enforcement abilities. The inequality in the world is linked to capacity gaps. (weak capacity vs. strong capacity). MDC (more developed countries) tend to have a stronger capacity
United Nations
an intergovernmental organization that was tasked to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international co-operation and be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations. (Veto power= China, UK, US, Russia, France)
Millennium Villages Success & Critique
by Jeff Sachs - Extreme poverty must be addressed by tackling root problems - 10 different sectors Phase I - Interventions in all sectors - Capacity building, infrastructure, development Phase II - Achieve MDGs - Focus on scaling up Phase III - Extended Assistance Ends/ Self Sufficiency - Operational sustainability Success - Decrease in Malaria (bed nets) - Decrease in Child Mortality (Medical Staff) - Increase in access to water - Increase in crop yield Critique - Paternalistic (Western countries telling African villages what to do.... culturally insensitive and ignores local knowledge) - No comparison sites elected, or independent evaluation processeses
Common pool resources: excludability & rivalry
common pool resources are both: Non-excludable: - people cannot be prohibited from using the goods) & Rival: - one person using the good takes away from the ability of the other person to use the good
Free, prior, and informed consent
is a specific right that pertains to indigenous peoples and is recognized in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). It allows them to give or withhold consent to a project that may affect them or their territories.
Nation States
particular types of states, characteristic of the modern world, in which governments have sovereign power within defined territorial areas, and populations are citizens who know themselves to be part of single nations
Traditional knowledge
refers to the knowledge, innovations, and practices of indigenous and local communities around the world. Developed from experience gained over the centuries and adapted to the local culture and environment, and is transmitted orally from generation to generation.
Civil society
society considered as a community of citizens linked by common interests and collective activity. TACTICS: raise awareness, mobilize individuals, spark social movements, serve as watchdog, litigate (Could be activists, the private sector, social movements.)
Marginalized groups
stakeholders with historically low access to decision making process and institutions
Power
the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events.
Culture
the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group.
Industrialization
the development of industries in a country or region on a wide scale.
Institutions
the development of industries in a country or region on a wide scale.
Polluter pays principle
the polluter should bear the expenses of carrying out the pollution prevention and control measures to ensure that the environment is in an acceptable state
Globalization
the process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale.
Supply chain
the sequence of processes involved in the production and distribution of a commodity. - resources from LDC are transferred into a MDC- and are. being transformed into something worthy- and are sold to the LDC for more money!
