Environmental Policy and Global Responses

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Questions and Answers

What was the main reason Southern countries were concerned about international agreements regarding forests?

Environmental degradation

Economic instability

Loss of sovereignty over their resources (correct)

Pressure from industrialized nations

Which area is noted for facing multiple threats to its tropical forests?

Sub-Saharan Africa (correct)

Eastern Europe

South America

Southeast Asia

Why is there no global energy regime despite the importance of energy in global affairs?

Inadequate infrastructure to support energy trades

Lack of interest from international organizations

Major energy producers prefer national control over resources (correct)

High levels of consumer demand preventing agreements

What role do energy international organizations primarily focus on?

Providing knowledge to inform energy policies Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of environmental policy?

Both qualitative and quantitative matters Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a natural resource managed on a national level?

Local water sources Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a significant threat to tropical forests in sub-Saharan Africa?

New demands for resources from mining and oil companies Signup and view all the answers

Which organization is recognized as the oldest dealing with energy issues?

World Energy Council Signup and view all the answers

What has contributed to the enhanced greenhouse effect?

Intensive farming practices Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of the international energy dynamic mentioned?

Diverse interests among governments and corporations Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a negative effect of climate change attributed to the enhanced greenhouse effect?

Increased forest coverage Signup and view all the answers

Which factor significantly influences energy policy decisions in major producer countries?

Energy industries and corporations Signup and view all the answers

Which gas is primarily associated with trapping solar radiation and contributing to the greenhouse effect?

Carbon dioxide (CO2) Signup and view all the answers

What challenge does international management of resources often face?

Resistance from sovereign nations Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following resources is highlighted for its global significance?

Fisheries Signup and view all the answers

What outcome is a direct result of higher concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere?

Changing crop-growing patterns Signup and view all the answers

What is one significant role that environmental INGOs play in international environmental negotiations?

Acting as information brokers Signup and view all the answers

How many seats do NGOs hold on the GEF Council?

10 Signup and view all the answers

What can INGOs influence during treaty negotiations despite having observer status?

Change the negotiating process Signup and view all the answers

What has been identified as a key method for INGOs to achieve influence in environmental negotiations?

Sounding an alarm and shaming Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT listed as an interest of the organization 'Birdlife'?

Economic justice Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of the permanent secretariat mentioned?

To manage operations of the Executive Board Signup and view all the answers

Which organization is primarily focused on climate change and food sovereignty?

Friends of the Earth Signup and view all the answers

What year was Greenpeace founded?

1971 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following organizations was founded in 1889?

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the reasons for the growth of non-state action in environmental issues?

States were slow to address environmental management Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of environmental INGOs compared to IGOs?

They often have observer status Signup and view all the answers

What year was the International Committee for Bird Protection founded?

1922 Signup and view all the answers

What does INGO stand for?

International Non-Governmental Organization Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following organizations was established for environmental protection in 1961?

World Wildlife Fund Signup and view all the answers

What is a challenge in counting environmental INGOs?

Inconsistent definitions of what constitutes an INGO Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the Environment Liaison Centre International?

To act as a conduit between UNEP Assembly and NGO members Signup and view all the answers

What role do multinational enterprises (MNEs) play in environmental policy development?

They can influence treaty content and government support for those treaties. Signup and view all the answers

How does the geographical location of many MNEs affect their priorities?

MNEs based in Europe, North America, and China reflect the priorities of their regions. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common perception of MNEs regarding environmental concerns?

They often exploit lower environmental standards in poorer countries. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the criticisms against multinational oil companies like Shell?

They avoid operating in countries with strict environmental regulations. Signup and view all the answers

What movement did the Business Council for Sustainable Development promote?

The idea that companies have CSR obligations. Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential positive influence of consumer demand on MNEs?

It has led to MNEs adopting environmental performance standards exceeding governmental regulations. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a negative aspect of MNEs in relation to the environment?

They can lead to the unsustainable exploitation of natural resources. Signup and view all the answers

What critical aspect of MNEs affects emerging states in global governance?

Many MNEs being based in developed countries leaves emerging states at a disadvantage. Signup and view all the answers

Where is the Secretariat for the Convention on Biological Diversity located?

Montreal, Canada Signup and view all the answers

What has contributed to the reduction of forest cover from 45% to over 30% of the world's land surface?

Mismanagement and overuse Signup and view all the answers

Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Overview

International organizations focus on managing the environment and natural resources, a growing challenge due to climate change and biodiversity threats.
National responses to environmental problems vary in effectiveness and scope.
Progress in establishing global environmental frameworks has been slow, with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) only being founded after the 1972 Stockholm Conference.
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) was created to address varied environmental issues like forests and energy.
Non-state actors, including environmental NGOs, play a significant role, influencing governmental and IGO policies.
Multinationals have impacted environmental policies through changes in their actions.

The Context

During a 2022 UN General Assembly meeting, a resolution declared a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment a human right.
The delegate, David Boyd, highlighted the empowerment of individuals to hold their governments accountable.

Building a Global Environmental Regime

Few issues are as globally significant as environmental health.
Humans have shaped the environment significantly, especially since the Industrial Revolution, leading to pollution, waste management, and habitat destruction.
Effective solutions necessitate international cooperation.
Growing human populations place pressure on resources.
Reliance on fossil fuels contributes significantly to pollution.
Waste generation, including hazardous and toxic materials increase.
Biodiversity is affected by human activities, leading to widespread species extinction.
Managing natural resources is important; these resources are essential in a variety of ways, like food and raw materials for industrial production.
Efforts to manage these resources on a large global scale have faced difficulties.
Climate change, recognized as a significant problem since the late 19th century, has been aggravated by human activity.

Non-state environmental actors

Environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) played crucial roles in promoting environmental awareness and influencing government policies, long before global institutions took similar actions.
International NGOs, like the World Wildlife Fund, Friends of the Earth, and Greenpeace, focused on natural resources, pollution, deforestation, and climate change, making their influence felt both at the local level and globally.
NGOs played pivotal roles in coordinating, advocating for specific policy changes and raising public awareness in many situations.

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Description

This quiz explores the role of international organizations, national actions, and the influence of non-state actors in managing environmental issues. It also discusses the establishment of important frameworks and declarations promoting the right to a sustainable environment. Test your knowledge on the key players and policies shaping environmental governance today.