10: Environmentalism
- Page ID
- 290179
This page is a draft and is under active development.
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Introduction
In this chapter, we turn to one of the greatest crisis of our times, the climate crisis. First, we will look at green theory and what is means to put nature at the centre of analysis. Then, we will look into details at the climate change and its impact on human security. This section will look at various threats that come with climate change: economic, health, political and many others. Finally, it will be pondered what is the way forward.
AI generated
This text explores the intersection of environmentalism, international relations theory, and human security in the context of a worsening global climate crisis. It contrasts traditional anthropocentric political models with green theory, an ecocentric approach that prioritizes nature's intrinsic value and suggests that ecological boundaries should supersede national borders. The sources highlight how human-driven environmental changes—such as rising sea levels and extreme heat—create severe multidimensional threats to community, economic, and food stability. Specific case studies, including the melting permafrost in Nunavut and water scarcity in Egypt, illustrate how these shifts jeopardize the safety of billions. Ultimately, the material advocates for a people-centered human security paradigm to address the urgent needs of climate refugees and vulnerable populations. Through this lens, the text argues that solving the current ecological emergency requires a fundamental transformation of human values and global governance.
- Explain what is the green theory.
- Define climate change.
- Assess the state of the climate crisis in the world.
- Discuss various solutions to the climate crisis.
AI generated
Based on the provided source, here are four learning objectives for the study of environmentalism, green theory, and human security:
- Explain the core principles of Green Theory, specifically the distinction between ecocentric (ecology-centered) and anthropocentric (human-centered) worldviews and the concept of the "tragedy of the commons" as it applies to the over-consumption of shared global resources.
- Analyze the impact of climate change through the lens of Human Security, identifying and describing the seven specific categories of threat to human well-being: economic, food-related, health, environmental, personal, community, and political.
- Contrast the Human Security paradigm with the traditional Realist approach to international relations, particularly in how they prioritize national interests versus the protection of the "vital core" of human lives and fundamental freedoms in the face of environmental crises.
- Evaluate the challenges of addressing global environmental issues within a system of sovereign states, considering why traditional concepts of sovereignty may be inadequate for solving transboundary problems and exploring alternative organizing principles like bioregionalism and decentralized governance.
- 10.1: Basics of Green Theory
- Green Theory is a critical theory that prioritizes ecocentrism (nature-centered thought) over anthropocentrism (human-centered thought) . It addresses the "tragedy of the commons," the idea that individuals acting in self-interest will overuse and destroy shared resources like fresh water and land . The theory challenges traditional notions of state sovereignty, suggesting that global environmental problems require global solutions or decentralized, ecologically based communities (bioregionalism
- 10.2: Climate Crisis
- The current climate crisis is over 90% anthropogenic (human-induced), driven by rapid population growth and the Industrial Revolution . While human activity has created the crisis, the source notes that human-generated innovation and solutions are also the primary means of mitigation.
- 10.3: Climate Change
- Climate change is defined by indicators such as rising surface temperatures, sea level rise, and extreme weather events . The current rate of change is unprecedented and destructive, with projections suggesting 200 million climate change refugees by the year 2050.
- 10.4: Human Security
- The Human Security paradigm is a "people-centered" approach that contrasts with traditional Realism . While Realism focuses on national interests and power, Human Security seeks to protect the "vital core" of human lives and fundamental freedoms . It identifies seven specific threats: economic, food-related, health, environmental, personal, community, and political.
- 10.5: Community Threats
- A major community threat is the exponential increase in climate refugees fleeing environmental degradation and natural disasters . The source argues that international agreements, like the 2015 Paris Agreement, have largely failed to address this specific humanitarian crisis.
- 10.6: Economic Threats
- Economic threats are exemplified by the situation in Nunavut, where global warming is melting permafrost, destroying infrastructure, and threatening traditional Inuit livelihoods . These environmental changes create massive infrastructure and replacement costs that small, local economies cannot meet on their own.
- 10.7: Environmental Threats
- One of the most significant environmental threats is sea level rise, which currently endangers approximately 800 million people living in coastal communities . Highly populated cities like Mumbai are particularly vulnerable to flooding, which threatens both human life and trillions of dollars in global assets.
- 10.8: Food Threats
- Climate change leads to food insecurity through extreme heat, drought, and desertification . Countries like Egypt face significant projected reductions in strategic crops like wheat, rice, and maize by 2050, coinciding with a projected global population of 9.5 billion.
- 10.9: Health Threats
- Health threats under the human security paradigm are illustrated by the water security crisis in many Canadian First Nations reserves . Despite water being recognized as a human right, many communities have lived under boil water advisories for decades, which represents a failure of "people-centered" policy.
- 10.10: Personal Threats
- Personal security is threatened by the commodification of water and lack of access to clean supplies, as seen in Jakarta . Residents are often forced to choose between using heavily polluted river water or paying exorbitant prices for water from private vendors.
- 10.11: Political Threats
- Governments may face a loss of political legitimacy if they fail to protect their citizens from the harsh impacts of climate change . This threat is particularly acute in developing nations where corruption or lack of funds may prevent effective climate mitigation, potentially leading to widespread protest and dysfunction.
- 10.12: Conclusion
- Human security is presented as a progressive model of justice embraced by the United Nations and civil society . The author concludes that in the 21st century, human security will likely replace realism as the global standard for international development and national conduct.
Attribution
Dr. Ross Pink, "The Environment: Theory and Human Security" CC BY-NC 4.0