Serious Implications of Globalization on Environmental Issues

In terms of gross domestic product, the effects of globalization on the economy are beneficial. However, economic gain is not what most critics of globalization concern themselves with. Rather, the by-products of this economic gain are the effects that create the most unease. While economic progress thrives, the resources used in the process are all but forgotten. As discussed by Najam et al. and Theodore Panayotou, environment has long been involved in international debate as it is inextricably linked to trade, globalization and government. Globalization can work both for and against environmental concerns. By tying countries together in the realization that we all share a single world, globalization can influence countries to work together and hold each other accountable for environmental improvement. Unfortunately, this is not often the outcome and in a consumer-driven economy, it is easy to overlook the impact that each person’s actions make. Turning a blind eye to the problems that have arisen from globalization is the easiest way to deal with the struggles faced in other countries due to our greed. If we wish for conditions to improve world-wide, it is essential that each person realize how much of an impact we make.

Worker rights are a perfect example of a by-product of globalization. While products are being sold at a much larger profit margin and companies are making more money than ever, the workers that make the product are being paid a fraction of what their labor is worth. This system is only made possible through globalization. Since each country is resposible for the rights of its labor force, countries with the lowest standards are highly sought after by large foreign corporations for potential factory development. This effect has been termed “the race to the bottom.”

The race to the bottom is seen with environmental concerns as well. It is seen in the rapid exploitation of natural resources as well as with movement of highly-polluting industries. These two industries perfectly exemplify how globalization has made it possible for many industries to avoid regulations rather than change their practices to accommodate them.

Exploitation of natural resources is a perfect example of the race to the bottom. Exploitation of natural resources can bring rapid wealth; however, these resources need to be readily available. Most well-developed countries have restrictions in place to protect resources and monitor their use. These restrictions are put in place to ensure sustainability and push companies to change their practices in environmentally-friendly ways. While these regulations are well-intentioned, they simply encourage companies to find a different location from which they can easily acquire necessary resources in order to profit from them. The place of choice is usually a less-developed country with little to no protection of their resources and resource use.

Cheap exploitation has become a focus for many globalized corporations as well as governments themselves. Natural resources are being depleted at an alarming rate and while most countries claim to have environmental protection and sustainability as a priority, their actions often speak otherwise. The Arctic ownership debate provides a perfect example of such action because even more perfect than a third world country for natural resource exploitation is an unclaimed country, for this is a place where absolutely no restrictions exist and no regulatory governments have control. This is exactly the case in the Arctic.

The Arctic debate doesn’t focus on how to reduce ice cap melting which would, along with many other beneficial effects, save many native people, ensure proper ocean currents, and prevent water level increases. Nor is this international conversation in an effort to aid species included on the endangered species list to protect their future in the Arctic. Rather this discussion focuses on the value of the Arctic’s natural resources and the income that these resources may produce upon our endless overuse of them.

The developed countries surrounding the Arctic (Canada, Russia, the United States, Norway and Denmark-Greenland) began an ongoing dispute over ownership of the Arctic and its resources. These countries purchased the most advanced exploratory equipment and employed the most knowledgeable individuals to navigate and map the Arctic. All of this money and effort was put forth to claim the largest portion of the Arctic as possible. Claiming the Arctic wasn’t done to ensure its protection and sustain its natural beauty; rather the Arctic had little value to these countries other than the value of its resources. The Arctic is sought after simply for its oil and mineral wealth. The goal of the countries involved in the dispute is to exploit the land for its valuable contents while completely disregarding the indigenous people, native wildlife and the environment that support them both. There are already many environmental concerns in the Arctic, yet little to no attention or time was spent on trying to resolve those problems.

The Arctic debate revealed a sad truth. While we would like to believe the myth that only misguided corporations are engaging in this unchecked exploitation, that is simply not the case. As the Arctic debate clearly shows, the government that we rely on to make proper regulations to ensure a stable future is equally as involved in this process of exploitation.

Natural resource exploitation is a serious problem. Most nonrenewable natural resources are expected to be completely depleted within the next few decades. This is largely due to the fact that any natural resource that is found in third world countries and is desired by well-developed countries will be taken regardless of the cost to get it or the negative impact their actions may have on native humans, animals, and environment.

Overuse of natural resources is a growing problem and a clear example of the race to the bottom effect. However, this effect is also seen with highly-polluting industries. Recently, there has been much emphasis placed on pollution reduction. Evidence of global warming, ozone depletion, species extinctions, polluted waterways, pollution-related disease and deformities, etc. have been rapidly surfacing as more research is being done to explore the effects of pollution. All of these effects of pollution have served to bring public awareness and regulatory changes. These regulatory changes focused on changing the ways in which industries manufacture goods and monitor their pollutant outputs with the intent to discourage highly-polluting processes. In some cases this works, unfortunately it was founds that industry leaders were more willing to spend their time and effort on finding ways around these regulations rather than finding ways to fix their problems. Again, in an effort to avoid regulations, companies sought out areas where their pollution can go unchecked because the sad reality is that the easiest way around these regulations is to simply build factories elsewhere.

One of the most highly-polluting industries in the world is the continually-expanding cement industry concentrated in China. The best way to introduce the impact that the cement industry has is to describe the process by which it is made. Written out, the chemical reaction of limestone during heating is pretty simple: CaCO3 + heat > CaO + CO2. But to fully understand the impact that this process has, let’s analyze each of the reaction’s components.

First is the limestone. Limestone, a limited natural resource, must be mined from the surrounding environment and shipped to the processing facility. Once at the mill, heat generated by the burning of fossil fuels must be added to the limestone. The calcium oxide that is produced is ground into a very fine powder. The dust that is released when the ingredients are repeatedly ground creates serious air quality problems that pose human and wildlife health risks. Finally, and most importantly, CO2 emissions are immense throughout the process. The gaseous byproducts resulting directly from the chemical reaction as well as the byproducts of fossil fuel use for heating are very rich in CO2. The rapid production rate of cement means that the production of CO2 is also very rapid. In addition to the byproducts resulting directly from the production of cement, the initial ingredients for cement as well as the cement itself is transported using petrol/oil vehicles. The immense production of CO2 and the use of petrol/oil engines throughout the acquisition, production and distribution processes clearly demonstrates that concrete production equates to a massive contribution to global CO2 production. This process wouldn’t survive in countries with more stringent pollution restrictions. However, due to China’s lower regulatory standards, it goes largely unchecked. These are exactly the types of industry that need to be monitored.

While globalization enables more industries to expand to foreign locations where they can be less regulated, it can also provide a means through which world-wide regulation can become a reality. Although this type of action has yet to make a significant impact on pollution reduction, small steps in the right direction have begun.

Many of the larger environmental problems seem to be out of the hands of the general public, however, it is important to keep the root of these problems in mind. In today’s world, consumption is the basis for large industries and these industries are often times the key culprit for environmental exploitation.

Getting involved with environmental issues isn’t difficult and it is becoming exceedingly important if we wish for future generations to have it as good as we do. There are many environmental concerns beyond those discussed here. Environmental issues surround us; we hear about them in the news, we see ads about them at the grocery store or on commuter buses, they have even become a common part of everyday conversation. In fact, most of us have probably been exposed to them so often that we have become desensitized to the issues. We must start taking these ads to heart and finding ways that we can help solve the problems. Even if each of us picks two or three environmental issues that we feel strongly about and work on those few problems, we have still made a difference. We need to realize that every bit really does count in the long run.

That’s not to say that we all need to stop driving or give up electricity; there are many small sacrifices that each person can make. These small contributions to the problems that matter most will quickly add up if the public works together. Just as the environmental problems surround us, the solutions are not difficult to find either.

The first step to making a positive impact on the environment is to identify problems that you think need to be solved. A simple way to investigate ways to get involved it to visit the EPA’s “my environment” site. This website offers plenty of environmental information for any zip code. From this information, it is easy to see what local problems need to be solved. Next, it is time to learn simple ways that you can help. Information on simple solutions can be found everywhere. A couple of the best resources or guides on how each person can help are the website for Wire and Twine’s “50 Ways to Help the Planet,” and, for global warming in particular, the CNN Time article titled “The Global Warming Survival Guide.”

Local environment improvement, if practiced globally will make a significant impact on the globe. However, industry must also be held responsible. While we can’t stop globalization and its effect on the environment, we can choose governmental leaders that will fight for change in environmental standards and we can also choose which companies thrive in the world’s market. Since consumerism is what these industries depend on to survive, it the best way to help bring awareness and change to these global problems. Getting involved in environmental improvement is easy and can take many forms. From making local change by working on your individual impact to making global change via voting and consumer awareness, we can make significant improvement in the future of the environment.