Examine the main problems and challenges involved in looking after environmental concerns in world politics. (UPSC CSE Mains 2016 - Political Science and International Relations, Paper 2)
- Conservation of the natural environment has always been one of the most neglected issues yesterday and today too. In spite of charting out planned strategies and policies to combat the negative effects of environmental degradation, we, as human beings have a greater responsibility towards our nature. It is necessary to safeguard ecological components like air, water, land resources. Nature, on its own, has always given the mankind aplenty. It’s the man’s greed that resulted in the degradation. The environmental degradation is thus man-made impending disaster. The actions of mankind, their negligence, consumption patterns, excessive use of resources and increasing pollution levels have all contributed to this scenario. ‘Ecological components – land, water, forests, atmosphere, habitat and resources have been threatened due to the growing prosperity of human society and its developmental actions’. Some of the areas are suffering from scarcity, droughts and floods and removal of forest cover. There are all kinds of industrial pollutions, increasing levels of industrial wastes, alarming air pollution levels, burning of fossil fuels, high concentrations of nitric and sulphuric acid levels, industrial waste emissions and lack of waste disposal mechanisms have all led to increasing pollution levels.
- Issues of environmental governance are much hard to handle. It is especially so when there is a collective discussion and action. The contemporary world is living in a complete paradoxical situation. On the one hand, there are national compulsions to provide the best of life and living standards to the citizens. On the other hand, there are obligations that require a state to ensure that the natural habitat remains intact. Caught in a dilemma, most of the nations, especially the developing nations, are heading more towards disasters. The unchecked development patterns are often at loggerheads with the resource management. What to opt for and what has to be left out is a major concern. The current decade saw many a challenge but many an opportunity to resolve them. As Elliott points out, there are calls for new global order for environmental care, new planetary paradigm, environmental revolution and so on. This involves a stronger recognition of ecological responsibility, environmental stewardship and an emphasis on human security.
- Environmental security aims to protect people from the short and long-term ravages of nature, man-made threats to nature, and deterioration of the natural environment. In developing countries, lack of access to clean water resources is one of the greatest environmental threats. Global warming is also a serious issue which has been threatening the balance in weather conditions across the world.
Next
previous
Latest News
General Studies