Environmental Globalization PDF

ENVIRONMENTAL GLOBALIZATION INSTRUCTOR: MS. MINAMI O. IWAYAMA, MA CONTEMPORARY WORLD  HISTORY World War II sped up the development of plastic technology. The Allied Forces needed it to make their fighting machines more efficient, and are used as substitute to metal, steel...

ENVIRONMENTAL GLOBALIZATION INSTRUCTOR: MS. MINAMI O. IWAYAMA, MA CONTEMPORARY WORLD  HISTORY World War II sped up the development of plastic technology. The Allied Forces needed it to make their fighting machines more efficient, and are used as substitute to metal, steel, copper, aluminum, and zinc, given that these materials are all in short supply during the war, and Japan (part of the Axis Powers) occupied majority of the Southeast Asian Nations (producers of rubber – natural material used in making plastics). Hence, plastics became the substitute for the aforesaid traditional manufacturing materials. To cope up with the demands of wartime, petrochemical companies built massive plants turning crude oil into plastic, and such was used for tanks, planes, gearwheels, parachutes, and ropes.  HISTORY Plastics contributed greatly to the success of the Allied Forces. With Germany beaten, the United States started its mass production of plastics, owning two-thirds of the world’s manufacturing capacity. This paved way for the PLASTIC REVOLUTION (1940s to 1960s) – the mass production of plastics and goods made out of plastics. EXAMPLES: – In 1945, most people had never heard of a television. By 1949, as plastic makes TVs cheaper, Americans buy 100,000 TVs per week. – Between 1955 to 1965, 42% of Americans rely on condoms for birth control. – In 1965, the plastic bag was invented – later, this becomes the symbol of plastic. At present, the world uses about 500 billion plastic bags a year (one million per minute!). – In 1950, the world produces 1.5 million tons of plastic. In 1960s, production has rocketed to about 25 million tons. In the 1970s, it reached about 50 million tons (same weight of 140 Empire State Buildings!)  HISTORY INVENTION OF POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE (PET) SODA BOTTLE Coke and Pepsi wanted to cut their costs on glass bottles, so they shifted to PET bottles in the 1970s. It soon becomes the most popular form of packaging. It was only during the 1980s that people started to realize the environmental catastrophe brought upon by plastics. – Problem: Plastics are so cheap that we use it for almost anything – it is easy to throw away because it is cheap. – However, it is also almost impossible to destroy! Scientists estimate that it will take around 450 years for one plastic bottle to break down naturally. Now, we face plastic pollution!  HISTORY Starting in the 90s, our daily living is shaped by plastics. Housing, plumbing, furniture, lighting, technologies like television, computer, and phones are all made out of plastics. In the field of medicine, syringe, blood bags, and other hospital equipment are made of plastics - new technologies related to surgery such as plastic joints, cartilage, pace makers, hearing aids, etc. are made of plastics. In the field of transportation, cars, boats, ships, and planes are made mostly of plastics. Hence, it can be said that without plastics, there is no modern world. “We definitely cannot live without plastics, but can we live with them?”  ENVIRONMENTAL GLOBALIZATION Refers to the internationally coordinated practices and regulations (often in the form of international treaties) regarding environmental protection. Environmental globalization is a more recent phenomena; it begun in earnest only in the latter half of the 20th century. – It was only during the 1980s that people started to realize the environmental catastrophe brought upon by plastics. It was around the 1980s that environmental movement started to organize on the international scale to focus on the global dimension of the issues.  ENVIRONMENTAL GLOBALIZATION EXAMPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL GLOBALIZATION MOVEMENTS IN THE 20th CENTURY EARTH DAY - Earth Day is an annual event celebrated around the world on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. - First celebrated in the 1970. - At present, it includes events coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network in more than 193 countries. RECYCLING - To solve the growing plastic problem, recycling began. - In 1988, the three recycling plastic arrows began to appear.  ENVIRONMENTAL GLOBALIZATION Environmental Globalization is usually supported by non-governmental organizations and governments of developed countries, but opposed by governments of developing countries which see pro- environmental initiatives as hindering their economic development. NOTE: Environmental Globalization aims to protect the environment and is against exploitation of natural resources. Developing countries are against the idea that they are being prevented to exploit the natural environment for this will impede their growth and development.  ENVIRONMENTAL GLOBALIZATION Environmental globalization is in direct opposition to economic globalization – Economic Globalization is described as encouraging trade, while Environmental Globalization is described as promoting pro-environment initiatives that are an impediment to trade. – Hence, environmental activist might be opposed to economic globalization, but advocate environmental globalization.  ENVIRONMENTAL GLOBALIZATION While economic globalization has environmental impacts, those impacts should not be confused with the concept of environmental globalization. ENVIRONMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF GLOBALIZATION GLOBALIZATION  CHALLENGES In 2015 alone, the world produces 322 million tons of plastic. It has been estimated that we have produced 7.8 billion tons of plastic waste (as of 2015 data). Earth Hour, an activity conducted worldwide in support of Earth Day has been found to be actually detrimental to the environment. According to Lomborg, Earth Hour is a colossal waste of time and energy as turning energy off for one hour actually increases CO2 emissions when turned back on afterwards!  CHALLENGES Although the world supports recycling given that it has the following advantages… – 19 PET bottles save enough fiber to make one big T-Shirt – Recycling 1 ton of plastic saves over 1000 gallons of gas – It creates jobs! In the US, over 700,000 people work in the recycling business – Plastics can be converted to another plastic material. It takes 88% less energy to make plastics using recycled plastics than using raw materials. … only 19.9% of the plastics thrown globally is recycled. Yet, plastic remains as an addiction in the modern world. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF GLOBALIZATION INSTRUCTOR: MS. MINAMI O. IWAYAMA, MA CONTEMPORARY WORLD Globalization has had far-reaching effects on our lifestyle. It has led to faster access to technology, improved communication, and innovation. However, globalization has also created some areas of concern, and prominent among these is the impact that it has had on the environment.  NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF GLOBALIZATION Globalization has led to an increase in the consumption of products, which has impacted the ecological cycle. Increased consumption leads to an increase in the production of goods, which in turn puts stress on the environment.  NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF GLOBALIZATION Globalization alters the food production process to make the goods more attractive to the market. Hence, the production and consumption of artificially and/or chemically bombarded products.  NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF GLOBALIZATION Globalization has led to an increase in the transportation of raw materials and food from one place to another. With globalization, people consume products that have been developed in foreign countries.  NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF GLOBALIZATION The amount of fuel that is consumed in transportation has led to an increase in the pollution levels in the environment. It has also led to several other environmental concerns such as noise pollution and landscape intrusion. Transportation has also put a strain on the non-renewable sources of energy, such as gasoline.  NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF GLOBALIZATION The industrial waste that is generated as a result of production has been laden on ships and dumped in oceans. This has killed many underwater organisms and has deposited many harmful chemicals in the ocean.  NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF GLOBALIZATION In various parts of the world, mountains are being cut to make way for a passing tunnel or a highway. Vast lands have been encroached upon to pave way for new buildings.  NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF GLOBALIZATION Plastic is one of the major toxic pollutants, as it is a non- biodegradable product. However, plastic is of immense use when it comes to packaging and preserving goods. This has led to increased use of plastic, causing widespread environmental pollution.  NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF GLOBALIZATION 8 to 12 million tons of plastic are dumped into the sea each year (est. one garbage truck every minute). There are five massive areas in the oceans where tides and currents have created giant, floating garbage dumps. (largest: Great Pacific Garbage Patch). Every year, plastic kills around 100,000 marine animals and a million sea birds. If we do not slow down our plastic consumption, it is estimated that by 2050, there will be more plastics in our oceans than fish.  NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF GLOBALIZATION Globalization has been at the forefront of creating public awareness. Generally, this is advantageous; however, economic-laden, instead of environmental-laden production of eco-friendly products and haphazard creation of environmental–friendly laws can be detrimental to the environment.  NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF GLOBALIZATION In 2018, research shows that microplastics have been found in human waste. No studies yet proving that it is detrimental to the human body. Estimate: we ingest one credit card size plastic every week.  POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF GLOBALIZATION If a developing country imports goods from a more environmentally-efficient country, their overall emissions relative to GDP tend to be lower. This may be because products from the developed world tend to be more energy-efficient.  POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF GLOBALIZATION Globalization doesn’t just entail the movement of manufactured goods, but also the transfer of intermediate, capital goods and technologies that have lesser negative impacts on the environment. Corporations with clean state-of-the-art technologies can transfer their green know-how to countries with low environmental standards.  POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF GLOBALIZATION Globalization also allows the transfer of knowledge and information on safety and proper waste disposal from developed to developing countries.  POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF GLOBALIZATION Specialization in sectors in which countries have comparative advantages can create an efficient allocation of resources that leads to the better utilization of scarce economic and natural resources. If every country has to produce to meet its domestic demand, it could result in duplication in production processes and therefore an increase in local emissions. Clothing Factory  POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF GLOBALIZATION Globalization has been at the forefront of creating public awareness about labor and environmental standards through the platforms of international activities such as fair trade and eco labels. The success of this environmental public awareness has resulted in consumer preferences evolving. Producers are therefore able to build their customer base by producing eco-friendly products.  SOLUTIONS On-going research in developing enzymes that can break down and eat plastics. On-going research with algae in developing a new biodegradable type of plastic. END