Introduction
Globalization and technology use obviously have impacts on the global environment, but the effects are not as far-reaching as those of other threats, such as climate change, energy sources, civil war, and poor health of entire populations. Part of the reason why globalization and inappropriate use of technology are less critical is due to the dual nature of their implications to the global environment. They are capable of doing and undoing the harm to the environment. Whereas cross-border integration can cause considerable damage to the global environment, it can also be used for dealing with externalities that affect nations and as a platform for sharing knowledge about greener techniques. Similarly, inappropriate uses of technology can be turned around and be used as a tool for creating innovative policies for cleaning up the environment. In this paper, therefore, I am going to discuss two double-edged threats to global environment-globalization and inappropriate uses of technology.
Globalization
Cross-border integration and the manner in which it affects the environment has sparked more debate and concerns globally. Although studies on this topic have had contrasting results, many still believe that globalization may be better for the global environment. It should be understood that globalization involves not only the transfer of finished goods but also the movement of human capital, technologies, and intermediate goods (Borghesi & Vercelli, 2003). This implies that multinational companies with advanced methods of production can help in sharing knowledge about greener techniques with countries that have low environmental standards. Given that multinational corporations use cleaner energy sources compared to local firms, they apply more energy-saving production techniques. Cross-border integration, therefore, helps in the transfer of environmentally friendly technologies to nations eager to go green.
Another benefit of globalization is that it creates awareness about environmental and labor standards through international conferences and trade fairs. Through environmental awareness, consumer preferences are evolving, which forces manufacturers to produce eco-friendly goods. Without cross-border conferences and trade fairs, consumers would only have limited options. They would rely on locally produced products that may be manufactured under weak environmental standards. The World Trade Organization, for example, has demonstrated the need for enforcing environmentally friendly trade policies among the member states (Thomas, 2004). The green box policies of WTO, for instance, require the member states to protect both human and plant life and to conserve their natural resources. Additionally, most European countries, the United States, and Canada ask for environmental impact assessment before entering into trade agreements with other countries. This implies that countries seeking to sign trade agreements with these countries automatically accepts environmental collaboration deals with these European and American countries.
Countries that were once pollution havens, such as China, are now creating effective policies for reducing emissions after becoming integrated into the global economy. In pursuit of global markets for her products, china is now positioning herself as a global leader in the fight against pollution and climate change. In 2017, it made a tremendous change by closing down thousands of industries that were non-compliant with environmental standards. Cross-border restrictions, on the other hand, puts the environment at a higher risk as it isolates some nations, causing them to be irresponsible for the environment (Dauvergne, 2005). The attempt by some countries to pull out of international agreements suggests that they are running away from sustainable development policies at the expense of industrial practices that have devastating effects on the global environment. For example, President Trump administration spearheaded the United States pulling out of the Paris Agreement in 2016. More than before, the US is using coal and other fossil fuels that put more pressure on the environment due to emissions. However, the benefits associated with cross-border integration should be used as the bargaining power to call for environmental accountability from nations seeking to gain from global trade.
Inappropriate Uses of Technology
As with globalization, the influence of technology on the global environment can be either positive or negative. For example, with the increased industrial revolution and a growing world population, the impact of technology on the environment has also grown. For example, advanced technologies are being used to develop production techniques that are environmentally friendly. According to Jaffe, Newell & Stavins (2005), these technologies account for the entire life cycle of a product, including mining or growing raw materials, manufacturing processes, the energy required to manufacture, and transportation to the market, and eventually disposal or recycling when the product has been used.
Another method through which technology is being used to minimize the environmental impact is developing advanced communication technologies that enable people to work in the comfort of their homes without commuting. Computer systems are also being used to optimize industrial and manufacturing processes that conserve energy and reduce wastage. Furthermore, the discovery of alternative sources of energy like wind power is helping reduce the environmental impact tremendously. Technology is also being used to create sustainable solutions for the existing generations without jeopardizing future generations’ ability to address their needs (Ezziane, 2007). The development of technological equipment also needs to take into account how the operation of the equipment will affect the ecosystem and the existing natural resources. Resources like rivers, forests, oceans, and air that are shared by everyone must be protected through the regulation of technological solutions and effective planning.
It is a well-known fact that some technologies are not environmentally friendly. For instance, the used plastic, food packages, and other litters on the streets can be moved by strong winds into the oceans or rivers, causing harm to wildlife. However, such effects can be minimized through recycling and reusing them as well as using eco-friendly raw materials to produce. Whereas there are no perfect solutions, technology can be applied in researching the causes and effects of waste by taking into consideration the entire life cycle of every product from manufacturing to when it is released into the market (Jaffe, Newell & Stavins, 2005). Complex human activities, including mining and power generation, also put pressure on the environment depending on the kind of equipment used. Similarly, the impact of specific technologies on the environment need to be assessed to determine the measures that can be taken to minimize the negative effects while increasing the positive effects.
Conclusion
In summary, globalization and technology were designed to have positive impacts on the global environment. As mentioned earlier, technological and cross-border policies help in monitoring environmental change as well as providing evidence for making better decisions for environmental conservation. Although both technology use and cross-border integration have the potential to cause considerable damage to the global environment, they are used as important tools for sharing knowledge about greener techniques. Policymakers are using cross-border integration and advanced technologies to design policies that minimize the negative environmental impacts while increasing the positive effects.
References
Borghesi, S., & Vercelli, A. (2003). Sustainable globalization. Ecological Economics, 44(1), 77-89.
Dauvergne, P. (2005). Globalization and the environment. Global political economy, 448-478.
Ezziane, Z. (2007). Information technology literacy: Implications on teaching and learning. Journal of Educational Technology & Society, 10(3), 175-191.
Jaffe, A. B., Newell, R. G., & Stavins, R. N. (2005). A tale of two market failures: Technology and environmental policy. Ecological economics, 54(2-3), 164-174.
Thomas, C. (2004). Should the World Trade Organization Incorporate Labor and Environmental Standards? Wash. & Lee L. Rev., 61, 347.
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