Transcript Lec 7 Third World in GEP

The Third World in International
Environmental Politics
Historical Context
Examples
Toxic waste “trade”
Ozone
Climate
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Background Factors
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What is the “Third World?”
Legacy of colonialism
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Distrust of and dependency on North
Weak states, strong desire for sovereignty
Weak technical infrastructure
Class schism: elites and masses
Commodity-based economies
– Cash crops, timber, minerals
– IC’s control markets, prices
– “Shadow ecologies” of the North
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… background factors
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Cold War: G77 & Nonaligned Movement
– Post-Cold War: Death of Third World?
• No: Third World as identity
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Dependent on investment, aid, and loans
– Vulnerability to globalized markets
– UN aid goal: 0.7% of IC’s GDP
• U.S. = 0.1%
– World Bank, IMF controlled by North
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External debt
– “Crisis” of early 80s is worse now
– Many DCs pay more interest on debt than they receive in aid
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Ecological debt
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Segue into International Law
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Sources
– Customary
– General principles of state law
– Formal agreement
• Soft law: nonbinding codes & guidelines
• Treaty: binding only on parties
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International law becomes national law
– Some states require separate legislation
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Compliance high
– reciprocity, predictability, mobilizing shame
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The Basic Formula
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Stages of international law
– Agenda setting and pre-treaty negotiations
• Science advisors, Prep Committees
– Adoption of finalized text
– Signing
– Ratification
– Entry into force
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Framework Conventions and Protocols
– States proceed incrementally from general
principles to specific obligations
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The Third World in Environmental Treaties
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Basel Convention on Toxic Waste Trade (1989)
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DCs wanted ban: a matter of safety & principle
U.S. opposed ban for ideological reasons
Result: “Prior informed consent” regime
Calls for eventual self-sufficiency in toxic waste disposal
Early 90s: Greenpeace exposé
110 countries have ratified
• Nonratifying signatories: US, Afghanistan & Haiti
– African states unite DCs around outright ban
• By 1994, 100 countries joined ban
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1995: Basel Ban Amendment bans all hazardous
waste exports from IC’s to DCs
– Landmark treaty for env’tal justice & cost internalization
– 60 countries have ratified
– Entry into force requires ratification by 3/4 of signatories
» www.basel.int
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Source: Basel Action Network
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Source: Basel Action Network
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Lagos, Nigeria Source: Basel Action Network
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The New e-Waste Problem
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Hyper-growth in IT: “churn & burn” model
– 70% of heavy metals in landfills from IT
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The solution: “recycling” to Africa & Asia
– Nearly all is junk
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NGO efforts
– Market-based & consumer solutions
• Responsible recyclers: www.e-Stewards.org
• Reduce toxicity
– EPA’s Electronic Product Guide: www.epeat.net
– Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics
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Lessons
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DCs can be a forceful coalition, especially with NGO support
Importance of political symbolism
Some issues are more amenable to treaties than others
“Away” is a place… and people live there
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The Third World in Past Treaties
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Montreal Protocol on Stratospheric Ozone
(1987)
• ICs cut CFCs 50% by 2000
• DCs could increase for 10 years
– 1990: CFC phaseout by 2000
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Multilateral Ozone Fund
• A big precedent
• ICs fund DC transition to substitutes
• U.S. insisted: “this is not a precedent”
Concern: climate change
Lesson: If ICs want DC compliance, they must fund
transitional technologies
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Convergent Third World Interests on
Climate Change
Shared vulnerability & concern for equity >
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Common but differentiated responsibility
– ICs must act first
Sustainable Development
– Right to development > DC GHG emissions will
increase
DCs: ICs must fund transition in DCs
– Additionality: new aid added to existing
Technology transfer from ICs to DCs
– Renewable energy
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Divergent Third World Views
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Diverse perspectives
– Rapid industrializers: India, China, Brazil, Mexico
• China: nearly half of DC GHG emissions
– OPEC
– Small Island States
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“Fourth World”
– 6,000 nationalities in 192 countries
• 15% of world’s pop. claims rights to 25% of land
– Human rights/ environment connection
– Indigenous peoples & forest sinks
– Skeptical of state sovereignty, growth imperative
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