Environment & Sustainability
Environment & Sustainability
Fair Observer's analysis of the latest debates on climate change, pollution, sustainable development, clean and renewable energy and environmental conservation.
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ASEAN / dams / Environment / haze / hydropower / mekong / mekong river commission / multilateral / overfishing / pollution / regional security / transboundary / 360° Context / Asia / Environment & SustainabilityEnvironmental issues are omnipresent in Southeast Asia . Apart from entailing tremendous environmental damage, the impact on regional security in Southeast Asia is noticeable. By Max Priebe and Felix Steinle In 1972, the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm marked a watershed moment in international environmentalism. Hitherto, conference delegates merely discussed vague commitments. However, in 1972, for the first time in history concrete environmental policy goals and objectives were produced. In 1992, the Rio Declaration reaffirmed the commitments made in Stockholm and established new levels of cooperation among States and key sectors of societies. Although...
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United States / Europe / Focus Article / BRIC / Middle East / Americas / Africa / Asia / Oceania / Environment & SustainabilityIn the past few years, the political map of Antarctica, a region rich in mineral-fuel resources, has changed immensely. How can the ongoing geopolitical polarization in this region have unfavourable global effects in the long run? Even after 50 years of peaceful multilateral research initiatives, various nations would still like to seize Antarctica. Although annexation of the continent is now difficult, ongoing geopolitics might disable the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) after it expires in 2048, or even before that date. If Antarctica is seized, either by force or deception, this can lead to a global conflict. The ATS refers to extensive multilateral accords which came into force in 1961....
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australia / carbon market / carbon trading / energy policy / Japan / United States / Europe / Finance & Economics / Focus Article / Oceania / Environment & SustainabilityGlobal carbon trading could potentially be the most effective economic tool to regulate industrial Co2 emissions in the fight against climate change. As concern about global climate change and carbon emissions mitigation is becoming ever more important, governments and corporations across the world have introduced innovative strategies to reduce steadily rising carbon emissions. Some of these strategies such as carbon taxes, energy efficiency strategies, command and control policies and market-based pollution trading mechanisms have been around for some time. However, they were previously used for other pollution control purposes, besides that of carbon emissions mitigation, with varying...
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Politics / United States / Europe / Finance & Economics / 360° Context / BRIC / Global Change / Arts & Culture / Middle East / Americas / Business & Entrepreneurship / Africa / Global Security / Asia / Science & Technology / Health / Oceania / Environment & SustainabilityFair Observer's Top 15 articles of 2012. Click here to view the "Fair Observer: The Year in Pictures" photo feature. As we wind down the old year and ring in the new, it is time for some reflections. Like any year, 2012 was packed with events, some of which will go down as historic while others will fade away with time. For Fair Observer, it is a time to thank everyone in our team, our contributors and our readers for taking us another step forward. The past year has confirmed that our community is our greatest source of strength. For years, the world has assumed that rigorous analysis of global issues is possible only if there is a huge...
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As the Middle East and North Africa attempts to industrialize and modernize its economies, there are significant energy challenges ahead. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has some of the largest energy reserves in the world. Yet, while the region is attempting to industrialize and modernize its economies, there are key energy challenges ahead. The most significant regional challenge concerns natural gas, namely, how to produce and utilize it more efficiently. However, this focus must be broadened and considered against the background of a dynamic global environment, that of increasing economic competition from Asia, the US natural gas boom and the global economic crisis, all...
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United States / Europe / 360° Context / Middle East / Americas / Africa / Global Security / Asia / Oceania / Environment & SustainabilityNatural resources are becoming the new powerful key to defining geopolitics and securing economic and strategic interests. Background Global power shifts in the post Cold-War era have characteristically moved away from traditional military rivalries to economic expansion and prowess. The paradigm, in part fuelled by technological advances and the ferocious scale of globalization in recent decades, has highlighted the strategic advantages lent in particular by natural resources. Historically linked to prolonged conflicts and civil wars in parts of Africa, Latin America and Asia, natural resources such as hydrocarbons, gold, uranium, diamonds, copper, zinc and rare earth minerals are now...
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By Mayank SinghThe pollution of River Ganga is worsening because of the failure of public measures and construction of dams, thereby causing the destruction of ecological balance. Spiritual and Geographical Significance Indian mythology provides a vivid description of King Bhagiratha performing a severe penance to bring the river Ganges from heaven to earth. Apparently, the penance was an act of atonement for the sins of his ancestors. The myth of the descent of the Ganges is an example of the use of religion for ecological protection by the ancient Indian civilization. The attribution of divinity to trees and rivers protected them from human depredations. It is for this reason that ancient Hindu...
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By Shaon AhsanA discussion about the Indian government’s failure to encourage public participation in the formation and implementation of the Ganga Action Plan, environmental policies created to curb pollution in the River Ganga. Meaningful public participation is important for forming successful environmental policies. Public participation, defined by Thomas Dietz and Paul C. Stern (2008) as “processes” that “elected officials, government agencies, or other public- or private-sector organizations” employ “to engage the public in environmental assessment, planning, decision making, monitoring, and evaluation”, has been a missing piece in the Indian government...
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Although the Ganga is considered a living deity, today she lays in the most abysmal state one can imagine. Quite a contrast to the image one would have of a goddess a nation worships. Background The river Ganga traversing over 2500 km is the longest river in India and in 2008 was recognized as the National River of India. Originating from the glacial melt of the Gangotri in the Himalayas, she meanders through north India, and finally meets the Bay of Bengal. The river basin covers parts of China, India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Apart from the religious importance – The Ganga’s economic and environmental significance is almost immeasurable. Religious and Cultural Significance...
