Instructions
Please write a 10 page research paper about the following topic: how are globalization and environmentalism intertwined? The research paper must contain an abstract, a clear thesis statement in the introduction, a heading for the introduction, and a heading for each body paragraph that represents a new point of argument or idea.
I will try and upload 4 different sources that you must use in the research paper and all 4 of them will tell you how globalization and environmentalism are connected. It’s your job to make the ideas fit together. This has to be very well written. Do not attempt to put direct quotes that are very long just to fill up the paper. If direct quotes are needed, please put proper APA in-text citation. You must use the 4 sources I will upload, and can use 4 additional sources of your choice but they must either be scholarly or pertaining to a well-known organization or news agency.
Sample Research Paper
Globalization and Environmentalism
Abstract
The research paper aims to establish how globalization and environmentalism are intertwined. The paper notes that environmentalism and globalization are interconnected by the impact they have on each other. Environmentalism has an impact on the pace and the direction of globalization. Similarly, globalization has an impact on the sustainability of the environment. A sustainable environment has adequate resources required for the development of the globalization. Some of the effects of globalization that include extinction of plant species and animals, pollution, global warming, and changes in the climate needs to be addressed by environmentalists. Some researchers argue that globalization is a threat to environmentalism. It is, therefore, fundamental to recognize the independence of environmentalism from globalization. Nevertheless, the crucial relationship between globalization and environmentalism remains. Globalization cannot be attained without ensuring conservation and protection of the environment. The industries and trade in the globalization process depend on the resources in the environment. At the same time, environmentalists must monitor the activities of globalization for the adequate conservation of the environment.
Introduction
Environmentalism and globalization are greatly interconnected. They are crucially related, and they influence and sustain one another. The environment is global and is responsible for the sustenance of life across borders and continents. The protection of the environment would greatly succeed when there is global harmonization of efforts. Despite the crucial relationship between environmentalism and globalization, much of the intertwine has been misunderstood. Mostly, authors have only considered the relationship between the two in consideration of the developments in the trade. Others have only considered the impact of globalization on the environment and not the otherwise. It is vital to appreciate that globalization has an impact on the environment and the efforts towards its protection. Notably, environmentalism has an impact on the pace, quality and the direction of globalization. Globalization and environmentalism are intrinsically intertwined because no operations in either can succeed without the presence of the other.
Environmentalism influences the full realization of globalization
The full realization of globalization is dependent on the conservation and diligent utilization of the available natural resources. Currently, there is increased pressure on the available natural resources. While it is evident that the lack of resources would critically undermine the pace of globalization, the natural resources have been already overused. Companies in the manufacturing industry need minerals such as diamond, iron, and copper for the continued operations. Others are largely dependent on the coal as a source of the energy. All these are non-renewable, and their overuse might result in a crisis in future. Najam, Runnalls and Halle (2007) revealed that nature’s productive capacity has been exceeded by twenty-five to thirty percent. Therefore, to realize the full potential towards globalization, the world as whole must make certain that the natural resources available are protected and used efficiently. The already witnessed economic growth has overutilized the available natural resources raising questions about the sustainability of the growth.
It is fundamental to appreciate the significance of the natural resources towards globalization. The natural resources such as metals, oil, and other minerals serve as essential raw materials of the important industries that contribute towards globalization of the economies. Moreover, their natural resources available are prone to extinction. The growing economies, for instance, China and India are at great threat of depletion of natural resources due to their efforts towards growth. The developed and the developing countries are already competing for the available resources. Other countries have already announced political rights on given natural resources to control their use. Crucially, the competition over the use of the natural resources is a great threat to the sustainability of the natural resources. The ecological resources are fundamental in the sustenance of life. The continued degradation of resources poses a great threat to the capability of the world to sustain the necessary economic growth. If globalization would be attained successfully, the world must ensure protection, preservation and controlled use of the available natural resources (Najam, Runnalls & Halle, 2007).
Environmentalism ensures the global security
Vitally, the environment provides the important resources necessary for the survival of the human being. In places where water is available in plenty, there is peace due to the abundant water for the industrial and the agricultural purposes. Water shortage is a key problem in major places in the world. Water is required for the transportation purposes and the sustenance of life in the world. The world is further jeopardized by climate changes that are prospected to cause variations in temperature and rainfall patterns. Globalization process is notably significant if the world would have the ability to share resources equitably as well as the peaceful co-existence among people. The availability of sustained resources forms the basis of trade. Harmonization of the trade fundamentally influences globalization process and people’s interactions. Nevertheless, environmental problems are already challenging the peaceful coexistence between communities. In 2007, it was estimated that 17 billion people faced difficulties due to water scarcity and this number is expected to increase with time.
It is also estimated that the climate change would reduce the land suitable for rain farming by 11% in the developing countries by 2080 (Najam, Runnalls & Halle, 2007). Moreover, the changes in climate would cause cyclones and severe weather patterns that would be dangerous for human survival. If the environment would not be suitable for the survival and well-being of the people, there will be globalization of problems rather than benefits. There would be increased immigration to areas with food and water availability causing more stress and insecurity. Therefore, positive globalization would be attained when there are favorable climate and abundant resources for people’s survival in the major parts of the world.
Environmentalism ensures that there is protection maintenance of the sustainable environment. Through the efforts of the environmentalists, rivers and oceans are protected from being polluted. The resources such as forests and minerals are protected against extinction. Environmentalism ensures the availability of resources and conducive environmental conditions for the survival of the human beings. Human security relates to the creation of the systems that human being lives peacefully and in a manner that depicts human dignity. If the environment is not protected, it mutually combines with the pace of globalization to threaten the lives of the human being. Environmentalism advocates for the environmental protections to secure world and nations in the process of globalization.
Globalization enhances environmentalism
Scholars have differed over the impact of globalization of the environment. There are those who are optimistic about the impact of globalization on the environment, and others are pessimistic. Dauvergne (2005) noted that globalization enabled the generation of income and economic progress necessary to encourage environmental conservation. Moreover, globalization encourages the creation of the global standards fundamental to encourage environmentalism. The standards would guide the nations on how the threats posed to the environment such as climate change and the depletion of the ozone layer would be addressed. The process of globalization would facilitate the transfer of the knowledge and technologies that would facilitate adequate environment conservation in developing countries. Notably, the laws and the policies would be easily developed to ensure the protection of the environment.
The increased globalization demand for the increased environmentalism
In contrast, there are scholars who believe that increased globalization demands increased environmentalism. They hold that major activities of globalization have a negative impact on the environment, and they need to be controlled. Environmentalism would be necessary to control the impact of globalization on the people and the environment. Globalization has increased the interaction between people. Moreover, the market for the multinational manufacturing companies has increased. For this reason, they are making efforts to increase production to meet the increased demands of growing market. Air and water pollution from companies have increased. Companies are unwilling to incur internal costs for reducing pollution. They are ready to cope with increased environmental pollutions as long as their costs of operation remain low, and profit remains high. Such companies do not consider the effect the pollution has to those who depend on the environmental resources such as the river. The companies, however, try to create a positive image in the public through involvement in social responsibilities.
In the phase of increased industrialization, a similar effect on the environment was experienced in the USA. The global population had increased, and the industries were fighting to meet the increased demand for products (Dauvergne, 2005). Due to the increased pollution, smog was witnessed in major world cities such as London and New York. Some of the scarce species such as the plains bison found in the North America faced the threat of extinction. During industrialization, the government established policies and laws meant to preserve the world life and the conservation of the general environment. Similarly, environmentalism is required to ensure the protection of the environment during globalization. Environmentalism would ensure that industries have treated the effluents and the gasses from the production process. Also, environmentalism would enhance the formation and the implementation of the policies necessary to the protection of the natural environment and resources. Notably, environmentalism would help reduce the impact of globalization of the environment (Dauvergne, 2005).
Third world countries have witnessed the increased disposals of the wastes despite the presence of the law. White (2008) noted that the media in the developing countries could not depend on in the efforts to control the release of the wastes. Media has been reluctant in reporting vital pollution activities by the large companies. The media companies have failed to address the issue of the environmental pollution to preserve the profitable relationships with the companies. White (2008) noted the increased pollution from industries into the atmosphere in the third world countries is an impact of globalization. Notably, the most developed countries such as the United States and other countries in the European Union have the tendency to help industries with harmful wastes invest in the developing countries. Developing countries lack adequate policies and laws to control the rising pollution. Moreover, the media that worked as a watchdog is cooperating with industries to protect profit interests. Moreover, developed countries are adding the pollution burden to those that are developing. The effects are due to increased competition. Environmentalists must come in and voice for the control of the pollution in the developing countries.
Globalization influence survival of important species
Globalization is also known to promote extinction of biodiversity. Thai, Rahm and Coggburn (2007) explained that the impact of globalization on biodiversity calls for the presence of environmentalism to guarantee environment protection. Majorly, increased globalization promotes the loss of value of the environment rather than promoting the value in the environment. The technological developments are the crucial pillars of globalization. Ehrenfeld (2003) noted that the technological advancement used by seed companies in Canada and the USA would result in the extinction of the non-hybrid vegetable seeds, and the plants such as broccoli, sugar beets, and the cabbages. Furthermore, globalization has the impact on the reduction of the certain kind of the domestic livestock.
A good example is a demise experienced in the Haiti on the eradication of the Creole pigs. The Creole pigs in the Haiti had adapted to the climate and significantly contributed to the local economy. The Creole pigs were replaced with pigs from Iowa. The cost of production was increased since the imported pigs required clean water, expensive feeds that had to be imported. The project failed, and the Haitians lost 600 million dollars (Ehrenfeld, 2003). With the huge impact of globalization, environmentalism is required to be a component of globalization (Thai, Rahm & Coggburn, 2007). It would ensure that the efforts made towards globalization are controlled, and the important species of the plants and animals are protected. It is not clear on the actual impacts of globalization. It is difficult to separate the impacts of the globalization of other activities that has an impact on the natural plant species. However, some of the important facts of globalization are evident. Globalization has increased the exploitation of the environment through the clearing of the land, trade, overfishing, and the major constructions going on a daily basis. The impact is worsened by the increased costs related to soil pollution, renewable energy exhaustion, and the increased climate changes.
Evaluation of the lack of globalization and environmentalism intertwine
In contrast, other writers have provided a different view of environmentalism and globalization. These authors argue that the globalization and environmentalism are not intertwined, and each can succeed without dependency on each other. Notably, the increased uncontrolled globalization is not intertwined with the environment. The researchers consider the connection between environmentalism and globalization to be the negative effects that globalization has to the environment. A relationship exists where there is harmony. In such instances, the activities in globalization would be controlled to enhance a sustainable environment.
Globalization is a threat to environmentalism
Environmentalism is committed towards the protection of the natural environment. The environmentalists ensure the maintenance of a sustainable environment to all the living things in the world. Kütting (2004) noted that the government control environment issues through the incorporation of other global matters in the political environment. With that, the governments have mishandled the efforts to control the environment. Instead, the government has prioritized other matters including globalization at the expense of the environment.
The environmental issues do not have the relationships with the activities that destroy the environment and should be dealt with independently (Kütting, 2004). Environmentalism should be carried out through the analysis of the political, economic, social factors, but it should remain independent of all the other factors. Therefore, environmentalism should be strictly and particular to the preservation of the environment. The environment can exist without globalization. The sustainability of globalization is dependent on the resource available in the environment. Environmentalism should be given priority over globalization.
It is true that globalization has a negative impact on the environment, and it is the reason the activities of environmentalists require linkage to the globalization. The efforts of conservation and management of the environment must always consider the activities of globalization. The efforts would make certain that the activities in the globalization are streamlined with the goals of environmentalism. Both globalization and environmentalism are meant to enhance the well-being of the people in the world. Globalization is not a tragedy, but some of the activities affect the environment negatively. The stakeholders should make efforts to address the few issues of concern rather assume a no relationship between the two.
Environmentalism is not a factor of consideration in globalization
There is no proportional relationship between globalization and environmentalism. In the developed countries, an increase in trade is related to the increase in the environmental conservations. In developing countries, the increased trade and the production activities cause huge environmental degradation (Shiva & Bedi, 2002). The effect of the environment in both types of countries emerges from the impact of globalization. The impact of the increased pollution in the developing countries is an impact of the increased trade liberalization. White (2008) noted that the increased pollution in the developing countries is an impact of the imported pollution from the developed countries. The developing countries have weak legal measures that would not enable the control of the environmental pollution (Baek, Cho & Koo, 2009). The crucial goal of the globalization is to increase trade and interaction at the expense of the environment.
Conclusion
Vitally, globalizations and environmentalism are intertwined. Some of the researchers advocated for the consideration of the independence of environmentalism. Nevertheless, the impact of environmentalism and globalization on each other is a vital relationship that requires consideration. The success of the process of globalization is dependent on the adequate conservation of the environment. At the same time, the successful conservation of the natural environment depends on the controlled pace and the activities of globalization. It is prudent to recognize the dependence of the activities of environmentalism to those of globalization. Nonetheless, the success of either aspect depends on how activities are carried out in globalization and environmentalism. Uncontrolled globalization leads to the pollution, extinction of the resources, and increased insecurity due to the scarcity of the resources. At the same time, sustainable environment is vital for the promotion of the environment. Globalization requires environmentalism and vice verse. There is a need to control globalization process to ensure its continuity. Increased globalization threatens the sustainability of the environment. Once the environment is destroyed, globalization process would be affected.
Summary
Environmentalism and globalization are fundamentally intertwined. The environmentalists must understand the important dynamics of globalization. A sustainable environment would have the resources necessary for the sustenance of globalization. The full realization of globalization is dependent on the availability of the natural resources. The lack of natural resources affects the pace of globalization. The world must protect, conserve, and control the use of the natural resources.
Environmentalism is imperative in the maintenance of global security. While globalization requires huge resources, major areas experience the scarcity of the resources. The shortage of resources would continue with the increased pace of globalization. Environmentalism is significant in enhancing the availability of resources. Moreover, globalization promotes the transfer of the resources and the technological expertise necessary for the protection of the environment.
Increased globalization demands increased environmentalism. For instance, increased globalization escalates pollution from industries. The industries are utilizing the available resource increasingly while minimizing the costs involved in the reduction of the pollution necessitating increased environmentalism. Moreover, in the developing countries, the media and large companies collaborate to reduce the reporting of environmental degradation issues. Globalization has also caused the reduction of the non-hybrid animals and plants. It is important for the environmentalists to voice for the formation of laws and policies to control the pollution in developing countries.
Other researchers like Kutting (2004) have advocated for the independence of environmentalism. The government has prioritized on the activities directed towards globalization at the expense of the environment. Globalization is a threat to the environment and should be handled strictly to reduce its impact on the environment.
Nonetheless, the bonding between environmentalism and globalization cannot be overestimated. The globalization and environmentalism are meant to improve the well-being of people. The successful conservation of the environment cannot be attained without considering the effect of the globalization. Moreover, globalization is dependent on a conducive environment and the availability of natural resources. Therefore, environmentalism and globalization are intrinsically intertwined, and the activities of each must be coordinated for the well-being of the other.
References
Baek, J., Cho, Y., & Koo, W. W. (2009). The environmental consequences of globalization: A country-specific time-series analysis. Ecological economics, 68(8), 2255-2264.
Dauvergne, P. (2005). Globalization and the environment. Global Political Economy, 448-478.
Ehrenfeld, D. (2003). Globalisation: effects on biodiversity, environment, and society. Conservation and Society, 1(1), 99.
Kütting, G. (2004). Globalization and the Environment: Moving Beyond Neoliberal Institutionalism. International Journal of Peace Studies, 29-46.
Najam, A., Runnalls, D., & Halle, M. (2007). Environment and globalization: five propositions. International Institute for Sustainable Development= Institut international du développement durable.
Shiva, V., & Bedi, G. (2002). Sustainable agriculture and food security: the impact of globalisation. Sage Publications India Pvt Ltd.
Thai, K. V., Rahm, D., & Coggburn, J. D. (Eds.). (2007). Handbook of Globalization and the Environment. CRC Press.
White, R. (2008). Toxic cities: Globalizing the problem of waste. Social Justice, 107-119.
