Fig. 1.2 Average annual temperature for the state of Texas from 1975 to 2005
The above graphs show that the world’s average temperature is rising steadily over the years. As globalization takes place, human population expands and the growth of civilization has accelerated over the decades. With the world sheer massive human population and never-ending quest for modernization, the level of energy consumption keeps growing. Our great appetite for energy means the burning of more fossil fuels and the pollution which necessarily follows. The overuse and misuse of the Earth’s resources have resulted in an ailing Earth. Current environmental issues include ozone layer depletion and global warming which in turn resulted in the world being brought closer together by international agreements that aims to resist and combat these environmental problems and this leads to my discussion on the Montreal Protocol and Kyoto Protocol.
Fig. 1.3 A logo of Montreal Protocol
Fig. 1.4 World map showing overview of participating countries (yellow color) in Montreal Protocol
Fig.1.5 Graph showing effectiveness of Montreal Protocol
The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty aimed to combat ozone depletion which was signed on September 16, 1987 and implemented on 1 January 1989. The Montreal Protocol is adopted by many countries and implemented globally. The Montreal Protocol is very effective, and upon implementation, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which have been identified to be the main cause of damage to the ozone layer, is greatly reduced by nearly 80% by the year 1996. The effectiveness of Montreal protocol can also be seen in Fig.1.5 which shows how the protocol reduces the change in ozone layer. “It is perhaps the most successful international agreement to date” said Kofi Annan. Why is the Montreal Protocol so effective? The answer is illustrated in the world map above, that is, simply because the protocol is widely adopted and the 191 participating countries work in unity with one another. Thus, the Montreal Protocol is, in a way, a tool/form of globalization that brings the world closer together.
Fig.1.6 Kyoto Protocol
Besides ozone depletion follows another global environmental issue which is global warming. It has been predicted that if the increase in greenhouse gases is not checked, the Earth average temperature will rise a further 1.5 to 4.5 degree Celsius by the year 2100. To solve this, Kyoto Protocol was opened for signature in 1997. The international co-operation for preventing further ozone depletion, well coordination displayed between countries and high effectiveness and efficiency of Montreal Protocol, has served as a model and scaffold for the design of Kyoto Protocol. Again, sign of globalization is evident here, as Montreal Protocol is influential to the design of Kyoto Protocol and in fact other international agreements. Montreal Protocol has also been reviewed to inspire the discussions on design of Kyoto Protocol and the experience gained from Montreal Protocol also serves as a learning guide for Kyoto Protocol. However, there is still a need for closer co-operation between these two agreements. Most commonly, problem arises in scenario where the terms of the two agreements contradict each other, which is illustrated in the following example. Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HFCs) contributes to global warming and parties of the Kyoto Protocol might have limited and reduced emission of such gas. On the other hand, this gas may be a substitution for CFCs. Due to the different roles that this gas takes up in the context of these two international agreements, further discussion is required to weigh the importance of ozone depletion and global warming. Both agreements may have to compromise each other and a third agreement that reconciles and combines the two agreements may be established. This will in turn bring different countries participating in the two international agreements to cooperate together. As can be seen, the linkage between the two international agreements brings the world even closer together and to work towards common ideals and goals.
Though, with Montreal Protocol acting as a model, the Kyoto Protocol is still not as effective as Montreal Protocol. In 1997, Kyoto Protocol was adopted by most of the countries, except United States of America (USA) and few other countries. In 2005, Kyoto Protocol is finally implemented and came into effect for all signatory countries, and this time round including USA. It is wrong to think that this is a perfect ending and that global warming can be solved as the protocol does not run as smoothly as the Montreal Protocol. Series of problems and obstacles starts to unfold and obstruct effective mitigation of global warming. The major problem is that developing countries are uncommitted to any specific emission limits and constraints of the agreement. These countries such as rapidly progressive China and India are not ready to bear the responsibility for global warming and climate change. Some countries in Europe and North America want these developing countries to accept the limits on emission of greenhouse gases as combating against global warming requires a global effort which needs active participation of developing countries. Indeed, to come to think of it, there is minimal reduction in carbon dioxide without the participation of developing countries. Worse still, China and India are developing rapidly and their rate of emission might be faster than what the other developed countries can cut down on. Globalization places an important role here, that is, to globalize the Kyoto Protocol and the efforts, and make sure that every country participates actively. Only then will the Kyoto Protocol work effectively like that of Montreal Protocol.
Bibliography:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto_Protocol
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Protocol
http://www.nationalasthma.org.au/html/management/cfc/cfc_trans.asp
http://www.purdue.edu/dp/envirosoft/housewaste/house/chlorofl.htm
http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange2/current/lectures/ozone_deplete/ozone_deplete.html
Environmental and Health Expert,
Yu Yang
The above comic depicts a polar bear stripping off its fur, indicating that the world’s temperature is rising steadily and has went beyond its limit of tolerance which will result in the ultimate death of the polar bear. The truth is that global warming is no longer a mere hypothesis, and that the impacts of global warming can already be felt.
However, despite of how pressing global warming is, there are some major developing countries that prioritize their economic progression before making contributions to help combat global warming.The is exactly the point the above comic is trying to illustrate or mock at: developed and developing countries contribute greatly to the level of greenhouse gases but show minimal concern towards global warming and perhaps oblivious to what other people in other countries are suffering due to global warming. When the impacts of global warming and disasters strike, these countries often have sufficient resources and means to tide over such crisis. It is often the poorer countries that experience the environmental aftermath of pollution. A sign of globalization is present here, in the sense of ecological interdependence: the activities and pollution carried out in one country affects the climate change of another place.