Understanding Globalization, Environment, and Population

Globalization: An Overview

Globalization is the increasing interaction of people, states, or countries through the growth of the international flow of money, ideas, and culture. A key component is economics, which is the driving force behind globalization.

Environmental Impact

Throughout history, humans have affected the environment by clearing forests, polluting oceans, and changing the global climate through industrialization.

The Role of IGOs and NGOs

The role of International Governmental Organizations (IGOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the global environment is to implement and comply with agreements that aim to reduce environmental damage. Political and economic agreements can sometimes be difficult to reach.

Natural Resource Management

One way that natural resource management can help with global environmental issues is by regulating the emission of greenhouse gases, thereby reducing the amount of heat trapped in the atmosphere that causes global warming.

Example: The Kyoto Protocol allows countries to use market forces to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Biodiversity

Biodiversity boosts ecosystem functions and productivity. There are two perspectives on the need for biodiversity: economic and political.

Ocean Pollution

Ocean pollution is caused by many factors, including major oil spills, increased use of petroleum products, and dramatic increases in shipping for global trade.

Global Warming

Global warming is the gradual increase in the overall temperature of the Earth's atmosphere, generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of pollutants like carbon dioxide. The Industrial Revolution is a key factor when considering the cause of global warming due to the massive amounts of fossil fuels released into the Earth’s atmosphere during that time.

Water Scarcity

Water scarcity is the lack of sufficient available fresh water resources to meet water demand. In the documentary “Flow”, the placement of a water bottling company in Michigan affected water access for the residents. The company withdraws millions of gallons of water per year, harming the local wetlands, streams, and springs (lower water levels/supply).

Natural Disasters

Natural disasters, such as tornadoes or volcanic eruptions, destroy wildlife and contaminate water. Natural disasters affect the economy by destroying buildings, equipment, and human capital. Politics are affected because the chaos tests a government's readiness and capacity to efficiently deal with these situations.

Population Dynamics

Population grows more rapidly in Less Developed Countries (LDCs) and more slowly in More Developed Countries (MDCs). Population Triangles:

• LDC: broad base that indicates rapid population growth, as well as high fertility and mortality rates.
• MDC: narrower base and forms a rectangular shape, indicating slower population growth.

Migration and Displacement

• Refugee: A person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.
• Internally Displaced Persons: People who have fled their homes but are still in their home countries.
• Migrant: Anyone moving from one country to another.

State, Nation, and Nation-State

• State: A political unit composed of people, a well-defined territory, and government systems (sovereign).
• Nation: A group of people with strong cultural, emotional, linguistic, religious, and historical ties.
• Nation-State: Political territory dominated by an entire ethnic group.

Interconnectivity and Global Interdependence

Mutual dependence at a global level. One country depends on another country for something, and that country may depend on another country, which eventually creates global interdependence. Importing and exporting of goods and services highly contributes to global interdependence.

Example: Starbucks