O Level Notes : Geography - Environmental Management - Environmental Management at Global level

Globalization has increased the interaction amongst different countries and the transportation of different substances intentionally and unintentionally across the nations has been made easy. This means that management of the environment at international level has become a necessity. This chapter focuses on the different efforts that have been made to manage the environment through international protocols, treaties and conventions.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AT GLOBAL LEVEL

Environmental Management at global level involves the setting up of frameworks through multilateral and bilateral agreements for the effective coordination of efforts towards prevention of degradation and depletion of the environment. Such frameworks include action plans and agreements towards the prevention of damaging and degrading environmental elements such as water, air, forests and the land (soil). It also involves nations encouraging each other to conserve the environment. Modern developments have led to nations forming trading blocs such as SADC, COMESA and AU. On environmental issues, countries also come together to confront environmental issues at international level. The efforts to manage the environment are triggered by perceived environmental challenges which include:

• Global warming

The temperatures experienced are getting warmer and warmer owing to the greenhouse effect. This is directly linked to mismanagement of the environment.

• Melting of polar glaciers

Due to global warming temperatures in the cold regions are also increasing. Ice caps and polar glaciers melt. The flora and fauna in those regions find it difficult to continue surviving.

• Drought

Rainfall is becoming erratic, with dry spells becoming more and more frequent. The amount of rainfall received by certain areas is falling drastically. All this is linked to degradation of the environment.

• Desertification

Arid and semi-arid areas are encroaching into non-arid areas. The deserts are extending into surrounding areas. Arable land is being lost. Human activities are in actual fact causing the extension of deserts.

• Ozone depletion

The stratospheric ozone layer is being depleted. The ozone is a layer of gases which act as the Earth's shield against incoming solar radiation.   Without the Ozone, earth temperatures could be higher than they are by 15°c. This means that mankind and other species could not survive in most environments. Scientists discovered holes on the ozone layer in the Arctic and Antarctic. This is linked to air pollution. Global efforts to manage the environment are at global level.

• Rising sea level

Coastal areas and Islands are continuously under the threat of disappearing due to the rising sea level. The rising sea level is linked to global warming which causes melting of polar glaciers. The melting ice flow to the sea causing a rise in the sea level.

• Diseases

Increasing temperatures have triggered diseases such as skin cancer. Pollution of the environment has also led to a number of other diseases such as respiratory diseases. 

The point discussed above are some of the issues linked to bad management of the environment. Poor environmental management leads to a cycle of problems. Most of the environmental issues are related. For example, deforestation and air pollution lead to ozone depletion. The depleted ozone leads to global warming and the greenhouse effect. When droughts become frequent heat waves are experienced. Effects of issues such as ozone depletion due to air pollution do not respect international boundaries. There is therefore the need for international cooperation to control these effects. Protocols, treaties and conventions are therefore necessary.