Environmental degradation in a globalised world.

Environmental degradation in a globalised world.

Outline

1. Introduction
Thesis statement: Environmental degradation demands serious attention but global
politics and economic protectionism are aggravating the crisis.

2. Environmental degradation: how global politics and economic protectionism is

creating barriers?
a. Global politics: contribution of wars in ecological terrorism
b. Economic protectionism: violation of UN’s Sustainable Development Goal No. 13
c. Failure to materialize goals defined in Conferences, Accords and Treaties on
Climate
d. Poland as the smog capital of Europe and its sardonic attitude in COP24.
e. The World has gone into “Ecological red” since August 2010 indicating the
urgency to resolve the Environmental crisis

3. How is Environmental degradation becoming a crisis and what possible outcomes

can it lead to?
a. “Our house is on fire”: Greta Thunberg’s speech in Davos explains environmental
degradation as a crisis that needs to be urgently addressed too.
b. Robert Swan’s expedition to Antarctica in 1984, Expiration of the treaty on
Antarctica and his vision 2049
c. Trump’s maxim “Global warming is a Fad” and his withdrawal from the Paris
climate accord: significance and repercussions.
d. Amazon wildfires, the sinking Islands of Maldives and the Republic of Kiribati may
lead to climate migration causing a humanitarian and political crisis on a global
scale.
e. Greta Thunberg’s “How dare you!” at the UNGA September 2019

4. The connectivity and power of the globalised world: a platform that should be
used to rise awareness and launch movements

a. New year’s celebrations, Coral reef bleaching of the Caribbean and the Invasion
of Russian cities by polar bears: Impacts and steps taken to resolve these issues.
b. Tourism industry and its contribution to environmental destruction such as
habitat loss, soil erosion and disruption of food web: Shift to eco-tourism.
c. Greata Thurnberg’s school strike for climate and the boat tour for creating
awareness regarding eco friendly transportation.
d. Arturo Vittori’s installation of the “Warka Water” in Africa: an effective way of
dealing water crisis.
e. Shift to Sustainable energy and the accomplishment of 17 major SDG’s as the key
strategy to rescue the planet from distress.

5. Pakistan in the battle: effected and redeeming.

a. Being an agrarian country can Pakistan afford Environmental degradation?
 b. Natural calamities caused by Environmental change may lead to economic
devastation, food insecurity and threaten national security
c. How Pakistan’s role in the war against terrorism has supplemented
environmental degradation
d. Water scarcity and general pollution can be resolved through National
integration and initiation of sustainable projects
e. WWF-Pakistan and MoCC sign MoU for environmental conservation in Pakistan:
The WWF Green Card initiative.
f. With rising sea levels, has Pakistan as a costal country taken solid steps to
safeguard the National interests?
g. Climate change marches across Pakistan: September 2019

6. Conclusion

Sources

a. https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/envision2030.html
b. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/05/the-case-for-climate-tariffs/
c. https://www.wwfpak.org/?uNewsID=351318
d. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/this-tower-pulls-drinking-water-out-
of-thin-air-180950399/
e. https://www.climatehotmap.org/global-warming-effects/economy.html
f. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-43512098
g. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cif-green/2010/aug/22/global-
resources-deficit-land-water-oil
h. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrF1THd4bUM
i. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/08/which-countries-are-in-ecological-debt/

Topic previously given in English Essay examination.

2018: The threat of global Warming and the ways to counter it.
 Environmental degradation.

*Please refer to the book The Uninhabitable Earth: Life after Warming
(Soft copy available in the office)

Fire and Ice

BY ROBERT FROST
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.

What is it ?
1. The essential elements of Environment: Air, water, land,
2. Biotic(living) and abiotic (non-living)
3. Organisms and the Ecosystems
4. The Biomes such as the aquatic, forest, desert, tundra, and grassland.
5. “Ecological Red” since august 2010

………

Environmental degradation takes diverse forms, ranging from pollution and destruction of
ecosystems to degraded fresh water supplies and arable land.
The international agenda often focuses on broad-based concerns of environmental
degradation such as desertification, climate change and air pollution.
However, for the world’s most vulnerable and marginalized groups, issues of environmental
degradation tend to be more localized and immediate in their nature. Degradation of a
resource base can result in decreased production – for example reduced soil fertility may
produce lower yields and deteriorated water quality can impact fishing. Such problems are of
great concern to the poor, with direct impacts on livelihoods, food security and health.
Additionally, although environmental factors are by no means the sole cause of violent
conflicts, environmental degradation, exploitation of natural resources and related
environmental stresses are increasingly understood as drivers of conflict: A reciprocal
relationship wherein conflict, in turn, can further degrade the environment.
Projections in climate change as well as in population growth and distribution present
additional future challenges to environmental sustainability.

………...

UN’s Sustainable Development Goal No. 13: Climate Change, "Take urgent action to combat
climate change and its impacts by regulating emissions and promoting developments in
renewable energy."

………
Climate Accords, Summits and Protocols.
a. Earth summit 1992
b. Kyoto Protocol 1997
c. Bali Summit 2007
d. Copenhagen Accord 2009
e. Durban Summit 2011
f. Fifth IPCC 2014 Report
g. Paris Agreement 2015

…………

The Paris Agreement (French: Accord de Paris) is an agreement within the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), dealing with greenhouse-gas-emissions mitigation, adaptation,
and finance, signed in 2016.

…………

USA’s withdrawal; its economy competition with china.

The recent USA missile testing.

……….

COP24 Katowice Poland.

COP25 possible ventures?
UN’s Sustainable Development Goal No. 13: Climate Change
"Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts by regulating emissions and
promoting developments in renewable energy."

……….

sustainable energy.

1. Solar Energy: The greatest advantages of solar energy are that it is completely free
and is available in limitless supply. Both of these factors provide a huge benefit to
consumers and help reduce pollution. Replacing non-renewable energy with this
type of energy is both environmentally and financially effective.
2. Wind Energy: Wind energy is another readily available energy source. Harnessing
the power of wind energy necessitates the use of windmills; however, due to
construction cost and finding a suitable location, this kind of energy is meant to
service more than just the individual. Wind energy can supplement or even replace
the cost of grid power, and therefore may be a good investment and remains a great
example of sustainable development.
3. Crop Rotation: Crop rotation is defined as “the successive planting of different crops
on the same land to improve soil fertility and help control insects and diseases.” This
 farming practice is beneficial in several ways, most notably because it is chemical-
free. Crop rotation has been proven to maximize the growth potential of land, while
also preventing disease and insects in the soil. Not only can this form of
development benefit commercial farmers, but it can also aid those who garden at
home.
4. Efficient Water Fixtures: Replacing current construction practices and supporting
the installation of efficient shower heads, toilets and other water appliances can
conserve one of Earth’s most precious resources: water. Examples of efficient
fixtures include products from the EPA’s WaterSense program, as well as dual-flush
and composting toilets. According to the EPA, it takes a lot of energy to produce and
transport water and to process waste water, and since less than one percent of the
Earth’s available water supply is fresh water, it is important that sustainable water
use is employed at the individual and societal level.
5. Green Space: Green spaces include parks and other areas where plants and wildlife
are encouraged to thrive. These spaces also offer the public great opportunities to
enjoy outdoor recreation, especially in dense, urban areas. According to the UW-
Madison Department of Urban and Regional Planning, advantages of green spaces
include, “helping regulate air quality and climate … reducing energy consumption by
countering the warming effects of paved surfaces … recharging groundwater
supplies and protecting lakes and streams from polluted runoff.” Research
conducted in the U.K. by the University of Exeter Medical School also found that
moving to a greener area could lead to significant and lasting improvements to an
individual’s mental health.

……………….

The 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) to transform our world:

GOAL 1: No Poverty
GOAL 2: Zero Hunger
GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-being
GOAL 4: Quality Education
GOAL 5: Gender Equality
GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
GOAL 10: Reduced Inequality
GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
GOAL 13: Climate Action
GOAL 14: Life Below Water
GOAL 15: Life on Land
GOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal

…………..

Scientists and economists are beginning to grapple with the serious economic and
environmental consequences if we fail to reduce global carbon emissions quickly and
deeply. The most expensive thing we can do is nothing.
 ………

See how global warming is damaging infrastructure in Alaska—and find other hot spots
with cost impacts on the Climate Hot Map.

• Damage to property and infrastructure. Sea-level rise, floods, droughts, wildfires,

and extreme storms require extensive repair of essential infrastructure such as
homes, roads, bridges, railroad tracks, airport runways, power lines, dams, levees,
and seawalls.
• Lost productivity. Disruptions in daily life related to climate change can mean lost
work and school days and harm trade, transportation, agriculture, fisheries, energy
production, and tourism. Severe rainfall events and snowstorms can delay planting
and harvesting, cause power outages, snarl traffic, delay air travel, and otherwise
make it difficult for people to go about their daily business. Climate-related health
risks also reduce productivity, such as when extreme heat curtails construction, or
when more potent allergies and more air pollution lead to lost work and school days.
• Mass migration and security threats. Global warming is likely to increase the
number of "climate refugees"—people who are forced to leave their homes because
of drought, flooding, or other climate-related disasters. Mass movements of people
and social disruption may lead to civil unrest, and might even spur military
intervention and other unintended consequences.
• Coping costs. Societies may find ways to prepare for and cope with some climate
impacts—provided that we do not let our carbon emissions continue unabated.
However, even a partial accounting of these measures suggests that coping is likely
to be more costly steps to reduce carbon emissions thereby reducing associated
climate impacts.
• For example, farmers might need to irrigate previously rain-fed areas, cool
vulnerable livestock, and manage new or more numerous pests. Local and state
governments that taker early steps to ensure that houses are more energy efficient,
and build early warning systems for heat waves and disasters and add emergency
responders are more likely to cope with extreme events. Governments may also
have to build seawalls, contain sewer overflows, and strengthen bridges, subways,
and other critical components of the transportation system.
• Rebuilding after disasters strike is likely to prove even more costly than these
preventive measures, studies show. And these costs do not include those stemming
from lives lost and other irreversible consequences of allowing heat-trapping gases
to accumulate unchecked in our atmosphere.

…………

Designer Arturo Vittori says his invention Warka Water can provide remote villages with
more than 25 gallons of clean drinking water per day

…………..
Pakistan and the plans to counter environmental degradation.

 Formulation of water policy 2018

 Paris agreement rectification
 National climate change policy
 National climate change bill2016
 New verities of seeds by PARC