CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS

OVERVIEW
This module presents the concepts about
climate change and a short discussion about its
causes and how it happens. This also provides
you with an understanding of its ecological, and
socio-economic consequences as it influences
and being influenced by the process of
globalization.
https://voxeu.org/content/formal-and-actual-similarities-
OBJECTIVES: between-climate-change-and-global-inequality-and-
suboptimality-nation-state

At the end of this module, the learners are expected to:

1. Define and explain what climate change is;
2. Identify its environmental, and socio-economic consequences; and
3. Recognize the interaction between climate change and globalization

DIAGNOSTICS:

Instructions: Write AGREE if you think the statement is correct; otherwise, DISAGREE.
_________ 1. Climate change and global warming are synonymous terms.
_________ 2. Carbon dioxide is the main contributor to climate change.
_________ 3. Increasing temperature of the planet results to drought as well as
flooding .
_________ 4. The most vulnerable sector to climate risk is tourism.
_________ 5. Globalization caused climate change but can also help in addressing it.

DISCUSSION

Climate Change and Its causes

Climate change refers to the long-term changes in the climate that occur over decades,
centuries or longer. It is caused by rapidly increasing greenhouse gases in the Earth’s
atmosphere due primarily to burning fossil fuels (e.g., coal, oil, and natural gas). Much like
the glass of a greenhouse, gases in our atmosphere sustain life on Earth by trapping the
sun’s heat. These gases allow the sun’s rays to pass through and warm the earth, but
prevent this warmth from escaping our atmosphere into space. Without naturally-
occurring, heat-trapping gases—mainly water vapor, carbon dioxide and methane—Earth
would be too cold to sustain life as we know it.

The danger lies in the rapid increase of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that
intensify this natural greenhouse effect. For thousands of years, the global carbon supply
was essentially stable as natural processes removed as much carbon as they released.
Modern human activity—burning fossil fuels, deforestation, intensive agriculture—has
added huge quantities of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Today’s atmosphere
contains 42 per cent more carbon dioxide than it did at the start of the industrial era.
Levels of methane and carbon dioxide are the highest they have been in nearly thousands
of years.

These heat-trapping gases are warming the Earth and the Oceans resulting in rising sea
levels, changes in storm patterns, altered ocean currents, changes in rainfall, melting snow

College of Arts and Sciences – Social Sciences Department For SLSU Use Only 119

\\\
 CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS

and ice, more extreme heat events, fires, and drought. These impacts are projected to
continue and in some cases, intensify, affecting human health, infrastructure, forests,
agriculture, freshwater supplies, coastlines, and marine systems. The common greenhouse
gases are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons
and sulphur hexafluoride. Of these six gases, three are of primary concern because they
are closely associated to human activities.
 Carbon dioxide is the main contributor to climate change, especially through the
burning of fossil fuels.
 Methane is produced naturally when vegetation is burned, digested or rotted
without the presence of oxygen. Large amounts of methane are released by cattle
farming, waste dumps, rice farming and the production of oil and gas. Oil and gas
drilling and hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) operations are major sources of
methane pollution, via leaks from damaged or improperly fitted equipment and
intentionally vented gas.
 Nitrous oxide, released by chemical fertilizers and burning fossil fuels, has a global
warming potential 310 times that of carbon dioxide.

By disrupting the atmospheric balance that keeps the climate stable, we are now seeing
extreme effects around the globe. The climate changes and it gets warmer. Extreme
weather events also become more common. These effects are already having a significant
impact on ecosystems, economies and communities.

Environmental Consequences of Climate Change

Among the many environmental effects of climate change are the following:
 Changes in soil moisture levels
Many habitats and species of organisms are adapted to a rather wet environment. Climate
change forecasts expect moisture levels to decrease, so habitats that are sensitive to
moisture levels will suffer if the climate becomes much drier. Reduction in function of loss
of habitats could impact food production, water supply and quality, and use of land for
tourism and leisure. Reduced soil moisture is also linked to increased risk of wildfires, and
the vulnerability of species to pests and disease.

 Extreme flooding and coastline changes

A coastal environment is dynamic and with high biodiversity, supporting a wide range of
species. Changes in sea level can change coastal habitats through erosion or sediment
deposits, providing both risks and new opportunities to plant and animal species. Some
coastal features also play an important role in protecting human settlements from flooding.
Typically coastal changes occur over a long period of time but events such as storm surges
and major flooding can lead to large-scale changes in a short period of time (although this
is rare). Climate change is expected to lead to sea level rise and both loss of habitats and
creation of new ones along the coastlines. Some international studies project significant
losses of coastal habitats, but since coastal land often provides leisure, landscape and
tourism benefits, adapting and managing new coastal habitats could be cost-effective.

 Increased risk from pests, disease and invasive non-native species

These issues are interlinked and the risk is expected to increase due to climate change
because many species are climate sensitive, and also because generally warmer winters
provide a more conducive environment for non-native species and pathogens. Most of the
research to date has focused on human health effects, but the risk also applies to broader
biodiversity. The introduction of non-native species (either deliberate or accidental) may

College of Arts and Sciences – Social Sciences Department For SLSU Use Only 120

\\\
 CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS

displace existing species and lead to the introduction of new pests and diseases as well as
disrupt agriculture. It is also possible that a changing climate may favour non-native
species to the detriment of native ones.
 Species unable to track changing climate space
Species distribution is often associated with a particular range of climate parameters, so
changing climate is likely to shift their preferred habitat either geographically or in terms
of size. Some species may not be able to find an available and suitable new habitat, leaving
them vulnerable to extinction. In turn this reduces biodiversity and potentially the
resilience of the local ecosystem.

 Changes in soil organic carbon

The organic content of soil influences the supply of nutrients and water to plants and the
release of greenhouse gases. All components of soil are considered to be at risk from
climate change, reducing the ability of the ecosystem to function. While climate change
may lead to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide which could potentially increase plant
productivity, temperature increases are likely to increase biomass decomposition (reducing
soil organic carbon) and the combination of drier summers and wetter winters to increase
soil erosion.

 Changes in species migration patterns

Many animals, especially birds, migrate to warmer climates in winter. Changing climates can
therefore impact migration patterns. This may present both risks and opportunities to
migratory species. Observations suggest that patterns are already changing, in terms of
geography and timing, behaviour which itself might be considered an adaptation to climate
change. However concern is that it may impact breeding patterns and successes.

 Increased water temperature

Aquatic species are generally highly sensitive to water temperatures, and the
stratification of water bodies can also be impacted by climate chance, affecting the supply
of oxygen and nutrients which in turn affects fish growth and viability.

 Impacts on water quality

Water pollution is a major source of damage to aquatic habitats. It can occur through
human and agricultural waste deliberately or accidentally deposited in water bodies, and
can be exacerbated by low rainfall. Climate change may lead to a change in rainfall
patterns, and indirectly impact the use of fertilisers in agriculture. The key challenge is to
reduce pollution at its source.

 Increased risk of wildfires

Hotter, drier summers, and reduced soil moisture as described above, lead to greater fire
risk. This can result in habitat destruction and species extinction, as well as increased soil
erosion and water pollution.

 Reduced water quantity

A reduction in water supply due to climate change combined with an increase in demand for
agricultural irrigation will have an impact on the ability of aquatic ecosystems to maintain
and replenish. It is known that low water flows can lead to increases in pollution and
nutrient concentrations. This can affect both wildlife and drinking water.

While the impact of climate change on some species is already well understood, less is
known about the interactions of different species and of habitat change. The inevitable

College of Arts and Sciences – Social Sciences Department For SLSU Use Only 121

\\\
 CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS

impact of climate change on most ecosystems is exacerbated by human-driven factors

such as land use change, pollution and even globalization. Some ecosystems may prove
resilient to some climate change impacts, but the evidence suggests that most need to be
supported by a planned adaptation response if irreversible changes to ecosystems are to
be prevented.
Socio-economic Impacts of Climate Change

Sectors to be affected by climate change include the following:

 On Agriculture and Fishery
The sector most vulnerable to climate risk is agriculture. Many countries of the Third
World are very dependent on agriculture and they would bear the onerous effect of
climate change.
Extreme rainfall events have caused historic flooding decimating crops and livestock of
farmers and this could impact food supply. This lost yield could cause prices to rise, and
disrupt market places. As a result of climate change impacts, it is projected that current
yield of basic crops like rice and corn would shoot up.

In addition to flooding, increased heat and drought will likely reduce crop yields. According
to a 2011 National Academy of Sciences report, for every degree Celsius the global
thermostat rises, there will be a 5 to 15 percent decrease in overall crop production. Many
commodity crops such as corn, soybean, wheat, rice, and some others do not grow well
above certain temperature thresholds. In addition, crops will be affected by less
availability of water and groundwater, increased pests and weeds, and fire risk. And as
farmers struggle to stay afloat by finding ways to adapt to changing conditions, prices will
likely increase and be passed along to consumers.

For fisheries, the rise in sea temperatures will cause fish species to move to colder
waters, which in turn will lead to a loss of revenue for tropical countries. The increased
frequency of storms will have consequences for fishing trips, security, and may entail risks
for the destruction of fishing boats and flooding of fishermen’s villages. Shellfish
resources, as a vital element for fishing communities, will be impacted by higher sea
surface temperatures, sea-level rise and ocean acidification.

 On Infrastructure
Much of our society’s critical infrastructure is at risk from flooding. Sea level rise could
potentially cause a loss of value of assets the end of the century. That is loss from
damage to housing, damage to airports on the coasts, damage to piers, and other
infrastructure which are along the coast. Much of this infrastructure will likely need to
be repaired or replaced.

Many important cities in the world are located on the coastline. Some of them are already
experiencing the adverse effects of coastal erosion and sea-level rise, such as floods,
water table pollution and habitat and infrastructure deterioration. These are particularly
felt by most vulnerable populations. An international report mentions the case of an event
that occurred in Durban, South Africa where as a result of the combination of a high sea
level and a cyclone, a swell of over 14 metres surged up and created havoc estimated at US
$ 100 million.

 On Human Health
Climate changes will affect human health both directly and indirectly, including through
heat stress, the incidence of illnesses such as malaria or meningitis, the geographic or

College of Arts and Sciences – Social Sciences Department For SLSU Use Only 122

\\\
 CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS

seasonal expansion of a number of bacterium, consequences from hunger and malnutrition

as well as illnesses caused by unclean water. The development of toxic algae will impact the
health of ecosystems, with consequences on coastal productivity, nursery areas,
biodiversity and human health through the consumption of contaminated seafood.

Increasing warmth and precipitation will also add to the risk of waterborne and foodborne
diseases and allergies, and spur the proliferation of insects that spread diseases like Zika,
West Nile, and dengue disease into new territories. Extreme weather and climate-related
natural disasters can also exacerbate mental health issues. The most vulnerable
populations, such as the elderly, children, low-income communities and communities of
color, will be most affected by these health impacts.

 On Tourism
Predominant on the coastline, tourism will be directly affected by the evolution of climate
conditions (temperatures, rainfalls, strength of the wind), aquatic parameters (surface
temperatures, invasive species, including algae and jellyfishes) or coastal risks (erosion and
floods). Available beach areas will be reduced as a result of erosion and sea-level rise,
thereby causing significant damages to the fishing industry and fishery-dependent local
economies. Additional resources will need to be set aside for the protection of the
coastline and related infrastructures. These changes will generally affect the
attractiveness of destinations and tourists’ preferences.
In addition, as water temperatures increase, water quality could suffer due to more
frequent and more intense algae blooms, which can be toxic, thus curtailing recreational
water activities and freshwater fishing. More frequent and severe wildfires will worsen air
quality and discourage tourism. Sea level rise could submerge small islands and coastal
areas, while deforestation and its destructive impacts on biodiversity could make some
tourist destinations less attractive.

 On Business and the Financial Market

Climate change and its impacts across the globe will threaten the bottom line of
businesses in a variety of ways. The frequency and intensity of extreme weather in many
countries can damage factories, supply chain operations and other infrastructure, and
disrupt transport. Drought will make water more expensive, which will likely affect the
cost of raw materials and production. Climate volatility may force companies to deal with
uncertainty in the price of resources for production, energy transport and insurance. And
some products could become obsolete or lose their market, such as equipment related to
coal mining or skiing in an area that no longer has snow.

In 2018, the Carbon Disclosure Project asked more than 7,000 companies to assess their
financial risks from climate change. The CDP found that, unless they took preemptive
measures, 215 of the world’s 500 biggest global corpprations could lose an estimated one
trillion dollars due to climate change, beginning within five years. For example, Alphabet
(Google’s parent company) will likely have to deal with rising cooling costs for its data
centers. Hitachi Ltd.’s suppliers in Southeast Asia could be disrupted by increased rainfall
and flooding. Some companies have already been impacted by climate change-related
losses. Western Digital Technologies, maker of hard disks, suffered enormous losses in
2011 after flooding in Thailand disrupted its production.

Because of global warming, the trend would be to veer away from the use of fossil fuels
but the movement away from fossil fuels will have a big impact which could affect banks
and investment firms that have relationships with the fossil fuel industry, according to

College of Arts and Sciences – Social Sciences Department For SLSU Use Only 123

\\\
 CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS

some economists. For example, the stock market value of the U.S. coal industry in 2011 was
something like $37 billion. Today it’s about $2 billion. So anybody that lent a lot of money
to the coal industry 10 years back would be in trouble. One of the things worrying those in
the financial field is that this could happen to the oil and gas industry. So people who have
invested in them or lent money to them are potentially at risk.

Climate Change and Globalization

Globalization is to blame.
The threats of climate change and ecological degradation are a product of the rapid
carbon-intensive economic growth that has underpinned globalization. With the expansion
of the global economy from the 1950s a process known as the ‘Great Acceleration’ led to
rapid increases of socio-economic indicators, from GDP growth to urbanization, that are
causally linked to rising CO 2 emissions and environmental deterioration. We now face a
dismal situation. Unless we undertake immediate and radical measures to curb greenhouse
gas emissions and restore the Earth’s capacities to cool itself, we risk triggering ‘tipping
points’ that lead to rapid, self-reinforcing and uncontrollable increases in global
temperatures with devastating consequences for humanity. Now, more than ever, the
interaction between environmental problems like climate change and globalization is
becoming more and more obvious.

Most of the time, we see globalization from economic aspect. Economic globalization is a
multi-dimensional concept. In short, it can be defined as the use and distribution of goods
and services, people, knowledge and capital across national borders. Its notion regularly
evokes controversy. Proponents point to the wide range of available consumer goods and
services, efficiency gains due to product specialization, and the diffusion of technological
progress. On the other hand, there are also many opponents who see globalization as the
cause of, among other things, increasing income inequality and the destruction of jobs.
Economic globalization is also seen as one of the factors responsible for climate change
and environmental issues.

Although it is difficult to calculate the exact climate impact of globalization, there is

clearly a link between the two as what have been stated earlier. This negative impact of
globalization on climate is mainly due to increased greenhouse gas emissions. The main
direct sources of greenhouse gas emissions are power supply, industrial production and
transport. Even without globalization, these activities would take place. But the trend
towards globalization in the 20th century and especially in recent decades has contributed
to its global acceleration. In the first place, globalization gave rise to a multiplication of
transport networks in the form of road, rail, sea and air transport within and across
national borders. In addition, growing international trade and investment have stimulated
global industrial activity.

These developments went hand in hand with an increase in global greenhouse gas emissions.
Initially, developed regions such as the US and Europe were the main polluters, but over
time emerging economies such as China have become the main emitters. After all, an
important part of global production has shifted to these countries, where, moreover, less
stringent environmental standards often apply.

Economic globalization has led to many positive developments, but its negative contribution
to the climate problem is undeniable. This does not mean, however and according to some

College of Arts and Sciences – Social Sciences Department For SLSU Use Only 124

\\\
 CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS

economists, that globalization and climate change are incompatible. They claimed that
there is no doubt that the production and transport of goods will have to be done in a more
sustainable way going forward. Agreements at the global level and monitored compliance
are highly needed. From a macroeconomic point of view, in an ideal world the negative
externalities of transport and production would be eliminated or compensated – likely
through pricing - without undoing the positive effects of international free trade.
However, the means through which such a system, or other options for combating climate
change, could be implemented, such as public policy or providing incentives to change
private behavior, have proven difficult to achieve. After all, complex, global problems in
the longer term are less of a priority for policymakers, who tend to focus on more acute,
national themes where visible results can be achieved quickly.

Globalization can help.

On the other hand, globalization can also contribute to possible solutions to climate
problems. The diffusion of green or climate-friendly technologies is facilitated through
global networks of industry, capital flows and research and development. In addition, the
rapid dissemination of technological improvements will also make it possible to better
monitor and report on all kinds of climate actions. This heightened transparency will
increase global climate awareness and the pressure to act will only intensify. In order to
tackle the climate issue thoroughly, a profound collaboration between public and private
parties with cooperation platforms that cross national borders will be necessary.
Globalization facilitates this process.

It is also important to take greater account of the distribution of the benefits and costs
of economic globalization. Many developing countries today are hardest hit by global
warming while enjoying relatively little of the benefits of globalization. However, throwing
the baby out with the bathwater and reversing economic globalization is a step too far.
After all, its positive effects worldwide are considerable. The challenge, therefore, is to
make globalization both economically and ecologically interesting. This is not an obvious
goal, but a necessary one.

College of Arts and Sciences – Social Sciences Department For SLSU Use Only 125

\\\
 CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS

Exercise 1:
: Effects
Globalization
of Climate
and I Change on Globalization
Name: ______________________________
Name_______________________________ Date: ____________
Course and Section: ____________________ Score: ___________

Instructions: TheFind,module
read and
covered
attachthe
an opinion-editorial
environmental and (op-ed)
socio-economic
article
discussing
impacts of globalization.
climate change.Extract
Although
the underlying
these problems
concept
canofbeglobalization
said to be
explained in
indirectly caused
the article.
by globalization, they may, in turn affect globalization.
Having known the structures or forms of globalization, list down how or the
way by___________________________________________________
which these impacts consequently affect globalization.
Title and Author of the Chosen Article
Follow this format:
1. Based on the article, is globalization a process, a condition, or an ideology?
Explain
A. Effects
your of
choice.
the following environmental impacts on globalization:
___________________________________________________________
1. Changes in soil moisture levels
___________________________________________________________
 ________________________
___________________________________________________________
 ________________________
___________________________________________________________
2. Extreme flooding and coastline changes
___________________________________________________________
 _________________________
___________________________________________________________
 _________________________
___________________________________________________________
3. ……………………
___________________________________________________________
4. ……………………
.
2. On whose
. perspective is the definition of globalization anchored (political
scientists, economists, or culture and communications experts) Give at least
three
B. Effects
(3) reasons
of climate
to support
changeyour
on the
choice.
following socio-economic sectors on
___________________________________________________________
Globalization:
___________________________________________________________
1. Agriculture and Fishery__________
___________________________________________________________
 ________________________
___________________________________________________________
2. Infrastructure
___________________________________________________________
 _________________________
___________________________________________________________
 _________________________
___________________________________________________________
3. ……………………
___________________________________________________________
4. ……………………
.
.

College of Arts and Sciences – Social Sciences Department For SLSU Use Only 126

\\\
 CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS

Exercise : Personal Experience on Environmental Degradation and

Globalization
Name: ______________________________ Date: ____________
Course and Section: ____________________ Score: ___________

Instructions: Identify as many environmental problems as you can in your

barangay and explain the degree by which these problems are caused by
globalization.

1. _______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
2. _______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
3. _______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
4. _______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________

College of Arts and Sciences – Social Sciences Department For SLSU Use Only 127

\\\
 CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS

Assignment : Metacognitive Reading Report

Name: ______________________________ Date: ____________
Course and Section: ____________________ Score: ___________

Instructions: Read the attached article and complete the statements that
follow.
 Afesorgbor, S.K. & Demena, B.A. (2020). Globalization may actually be
better for the environment
Available at https://theconversation.com/globalization-may-actually-be-
better-for-the-environment-95406

1. The three (3) things that I significantly learned from the readings are ………..
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

2. The three (3) things that are still unclear to me are ……………..
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

3. I used to think that ……………..

___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

4. The three (3) questions that I want to ask about the readings are ……………..
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

College of Arts and Sciences – Social Sciences Department For SLSU Use Only 128

\\\
 CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS

Globalization may actually be better for the environment

by Sylvanus Kwaku Afesorgbor and Binyam Afewerk Demena, 2020
Available at https://theconversation.com/globalization-may-actually-be-better-for-the-environment-
95406

The increasing pace of globalization and how it affects the environment has been a major global
concern. Although the research has been fraught with contrasting results, there are many who strongly
believe that increased globalization has been harmful to the environment. A large number of
environmentalists who support this view base their arguments on the premise that globalization leads to
an increase in global demand, resulting in increased production. This indirectly contributes to the
exploitation of the environment and the depletion of natural resources.
Amid rising environmental concerns, an important question is whether deglobalization would
have the opposite impact on the environment. Put differently, if globalization is harmful, then should we
expect that the current deglobalization trend will be less harmful for the environment? It’s an
important question to ask right now considering the mounting anti-globalization sentiments that have
engulfed the Global North.
We have not only witnessed Brexit, the election of Donald Trump, the Belgian opposition to the
trade agreement between the European Union and Canada in the recent past, but more recently, we
have seen anti-globalization sentiments heating up even in the United States, once the strongest
architect and proponent of globalization in the world. This is resulting in uncertainty and a near
stalemate for NAFTA, steel and aluminium tariff hikes and the potential trade war with China.

Is globalization bad for the environment?

The adverse effect of globalization on the environment is supported by what’s known as the
race-to-the-bottom hypothesis. This school of thought argues that increased gains from globalization are
achieved at the expense of the environment because more open economies adopt looser environmental
standards. Those who support this bleak view of globalization argue it creates global competition,
resulting in a boost in economic activities that deplete the environment and its natural resources. The
increased economic activity leads to greater emissions of industrial pollutants and more environmental
degradation. The pressure on international firms to remain competitive forces them to adopt cost-
saving production techniques that can be environmentally harmful.

Deglobalization may worsen emissions

But in fact, deglobalization may not necessarily translate into reduced emissions of harmful
gases such as CO₂, SO₂, NO₂, but could actually worsen it. Through what’s known as the technique
effect, we know globalization can trigger environmentally friendly technological innovations that can be
transferred from countries with strict environmental regulations to pollution havens. Globalization
doesn’t just entail the movement of manufactured goods, but also the transfer of intermediate, capital
goods and technologies. That means multinational corporations with clean state-of-the-art technologies
can transfer their green know-how to countries with low environmental standards.
It’s widely recognized that multinational firms use cleaner types of energy than local firms, and
therefore have more energy-efficient production processes. Deglobalization could mean these
environmentally friendly technologies aren’t passed on to countries that are trying to go green.
The rise of anti-globalization forces also means less specialization in sectors in which countries have
comparative advantages. This can create an inefficient allocation of resources that leads to the
dissipation of scarce economic and natural resources. If every country has to produce to meet its
domestic demand, in other words, it could result in duplication in production processes and therefore
an increase in local emissions.

Iran sanctions backfire for the environment

Since some countries have weaker environmental standards than others, this could possibly
worsen global emissions. A good example of this is Iran, which has been slapped with economic
sanctions, making the country less integrated in the world economy. The result has been domestic
production that’s wreaked immense havoc on the environment. As result of import bans of crude oil, for
example, Iran started refining its own crude oil that contains 10 times the level of pollutants of the oil it
used to import.

College of Arts and Sciences – Social Sciences Department For SLSU Use Only 129

\\\
 CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS

Globalization has another benefit — it’s been at the forefront of creating public awareness
about labour and environmental standards through the platforms of international activities such as fair
trade and eco labels. The success of this environmental public awareness has resulted in consumer
preferences evolving. Producers are therefore able to build their customer base by producing eco-
friendly products. Without international trade, consumers would have limited choices, and could be
forced to purchase only domestic goods that may have been produced under lax environmental
standards.

WTO and RTAs help protect the environment

Globalization achieved through multilateral negotiations via the World Trade Organization has
also demonstrated that although environmental protection is not part of the WTO’s core mandate, it
has spurred enthusiasm within its member countries for sustainable development and environmentally
friendly trade policies. There are several WTO trade-related measures that are compatible with
environmental protection and sustainable use of natural resources. For instance, the green provisions of
the WTO direct countries to protect human, animal or plant life and conserve their exhaustible natural
resources.
Apart from the WTO, regional trade agreements, known as RTAs, are another feature of
globalization that promote environmentally sustainable policies. As countries seek to join RTAs, they are
also made to simultaneously embrace environmental cooperation agreements. Many countries,
including Canada and those in the European Union, have developed national policies that stipulate that
prior to signing any trade agreement, environmental impact assessments must be carried out. That
means that any country that signs trade agreements with those countries must also automatically sign
environmental cooperation deals.

China leading while the U.S. lagging?

We’ve seen over the years how countries like China, once pollution havens, are making
tremendous gains in reducing their emissions, especially after becoming more integrated into the world
economy. Because of the incentives to increase global market access for its products, China has moved
from the position of one of the world’s top polluters into a global leader spearheading the fight against
climate change and pollution. In 2017, China closed down tens of thousands of factories that were not
complying with its environmental standards.
In contrast, we have seen a country like the U.S. slowly drifting away from the climate change
fight in part because of the anti-globalization inclinations of Donald Trump. He pulled the U.S. out of the
Paris Agreement on climate change in keeping with his anti-globalization rhetoric during the 2016 U.S.
election campaign. Through its America First Energy Plan, the Trump administration has outlined its
preference for polluting industries, the use of fossil fuels and the revival of the coal industry. This signals
that deglobalizing countries may drift away from sustainable development practices towards industrial
policies that are devastating to the environment.

As countries restrict international trade, the environment is likely at risk. Deglobalization

isolates countries, making them less likely to be responsible for the environment. The gains associated
with globalization, on the other hand, can be used as effective bargaining strategies or an incentive to
demand environmental accountability from countries hoping to benefit from global trading systems.

College of Arts and Sciences – Social Sciences Department For SLSU Use Only 130

\\\
 CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS

References:

Aldama, Prince Kennex R. (2018). The Contemporary World. Sampaloc, Manila. Rex Bookstore

Afesorgbor, S.K. & Demena, B.A. (2020). Globalization may actually be better for the environment
https://theconversation.com/globalization-may-actually-be-better-for-the-environment-95406

Cho, R., (2019). How Climate Change Impacts the Economy

https://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2019/06/20/climate-change-economy-impacts/

Claudio, L.E. and Abinales, P.N. (2018). The Contemporary World. Quezon City.C & E Publishing, Inc.

David Suzuki Foundation, (n.d.). What Are Greenhouse Gases?

https://davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/greenhouse-gases/

Goubergen, J.V. (2019). Globalisation: also part of the solution to climate change
https://www.kbc.com/en/economics/publications/globalisation-also-part-of-the-solution-to-
climate-change.html

Green, J. (2020). Why climate change is globalization’s biggest challenge yet

http://speri.dept.shef.ac.uk/2020/01/27/why-climate-change-is-globalizations-biggest-
challenge-yet/

Partenariat Régional pour la Conservation de la zone côtière et Marine en Afrique de l'Ouest , (n.d.).
Socio-economic impact of climate change: a possible worst-case scenario if appropriate
measures are not taken now http://www.prcmarine.org/en/socio-economic-impact-climate-
change-possible-worst-case-scenario-if-appropriate-measures-are-
not#:~:text=Health%3A%20Climate%20changes%20will%20affect,illnesses%20caused%20by%20
unclean%20water.

Principles for responsible Investment, (2014). Environmental and social consequences of climate
Change https://www.unpri.org/environmental-and-social-consequences-of-climate-
change/3028.article

San Juan, David Michael M. (2018). Journeys through our Contemporary World. Quezon City,
Vibal Group, Inc.

College of Arts and Sciences – Social Sciences Department For SLSU Use Only 131

\\\