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Introduction
Globalization is a process through which economies and human societies have flourished and grown interdependent to each other excelling the cultural, economic, environmental and political impediments. In simple terms, globalization involves a free flow of capital, information, ideas across the globe. This is made possible through the rise of mass media, technological advancement, and improved communication. The impact of globalization in present day world is a growing phenomenon and it is an overheated topic as to the globalization has its advantages and disadvantages. Surely, there is no doubt that some very significant global processes involving cultural, political, environment and economic factors are underway that affect everyone and everything on this planet. In this paper, we will be analyzing the impact of globalization on the environment. Even though globalization has had its advantages but the disadvantages overcome the advantages, it provides (Brockington, p.413).
Background
The overall impact of globalization in the modern world has been a great subject of debate, and there is rising controversy that whether the disadvantages of globalization overcomes the advantages it provides. Many argue that the modern trend of the world towards rising globalization promotes efficiency, widen the access to goods and services, and provides better opportunities for education, improved life, and investment capital. It is imperative to understand that globalization pose serious challenges to the environment (Brockington, p.414 ).Hence, the relationship between environment and globalization should first be studied in order to elaborate further on disadvantages and refutations of the thesis. It is important to know that the environment itself is basically global in reality with ecosystems and watersheds that support life. We know that environmental factors have no national boundaries; air and water pollution, for example, can move across continents, oceans, and rivers flow across the world. Hence, environment itself is a global phenomenon but has the mass consumerism factor involved to it (Brockington, p.415).
One basic atmospheric layer supports and protects the climate and the world from harsh ultraviolet rays. The monitoring of environmental concerns and issue require a coordinated effort from both regional and global level. On the other hand, the environment itself is linked to economic development that provides natural resources that help in fueling the growth of the economy and the cycle of ecosystem, that helps in living and improving livelihood of people on this earth (Das, p.99). The point to note is that in reality globalization and environment are interlinked because of each other but globalization, and the rising capitalism has helped in depletion of natural resources and disturbed the ecosystem of life. It is significant to highlight that not only globalization impacts the world’s environment but the environment also impact the direction, quality, and movement of globalization (Das, p.99).
Globalization and Impact on Environment – Pros and Cons
A potential and lucrative environment full of natural resources is important for the globalization to have its full impact. The absence of a sound environment will undermine the prospects of economic development through globalization as globalization and environment are interlinked to each other. This can be explained in the terms that natural resources for example timber, metal, oil, etc. are the basic raw materials that are required for much of the global economic growth (Das, p.100). These resources are available in finite quantity for the use of humans in capitalistic structure and the relative quantum of these resources being used and depleted is increasing day by day especially with the economic expansion of the developing economies with large number of population such as China and India. These developing countries are increasing their global prosperity. Along with this the global competition is increasing for these resources and geopolitical resources are being moved to attain and control these critical resources. When we consider all these points under one umbrella, we realize that all this will lead ecological process degradation and this could cause a serious hiccup to the survival of the global economic growth and human life existence itself. According to research, human beings have already exceeded the productive capacity of natural resources by 30 percent and up to 60 percent of the ecosystem is presently over-exhausted (Brockington, p.412).
On the other hand, the proponents of globalization and capitalization have brought up a new concept of “natural capitalism” where they believe that the globalization should move ahead, but with sustainable action. The concept of Natural Capitalism is based on sustainable movement and it argues that organizations should radically adopt an approach towards productive and efficient use of natural resources in order to solve environmental issues but attain profitability (Brockington, p.412). It is important and possible to transform capitalism into a system that inherently promotes sustainability, and the organisations are able to reap their basic motive of gaining profit. It is important that the business organisations implement efficient business practices to prevent the waste of natural resources. Natural capitalism as proposed by Hawken offers a substitute to the bleak scenario that capitalism presents in the industrial economic system (Brockington, p.412).
The second argument in opposition to globalization and its impact on environment is that as the world is growing and millions of factories are joining hands with the global supply chain and mines are being exploited and timber is knocked down to meet the rising consumer demand the rise in pollution is the result of this activity (Nayan, p.2). Pollution first impacts the main country contaminating the water and soil and soon it becomes a global problem because of absorption into the atmosphere making the air poisonous and bringing acid rain into the world. The rising phenomenon is of deforestation due to rising globalization and the millions of migrants flee their homes because of excessive floods caused by deforestation and global warming (Nayan, p.2).
The proponents argue that drastic and striking commitment is seen from nations and their global governance in order to limit the negative impact of globalization. The Montreal Protocol was an agreement where the nations took concerted action in order to control the rising ozone depletion issue. This has helped in reducing the ozone hole, and it has shrunk. There is evidence that due to the awareness and economic growth and global warming, urbanisation and public policies the countries are limiting the destruction of their forests.
The third argument against globalization and environmental impact is that rising globalization has increased the demand for free trade and low geographical boundaries that has made it difficult for the governments to impose environmental rules and regulations in their countries as the firms are able to evade these controls by moving to areas that have less environment controls in place (Dean, p.819). The more tightening the government regulation is, the more emissions that harm the environment. Hence, globalization and trade is incompatible to protect the environment.
However, the ones who favor globalization and belief that the overall impact has been positive state that globalization has increased the capability of an organization to produce efficiently as long as the market is able to have control over the external environment (Dean, p.820). The local environment and economic situations of many countries have improved due to rising awareness, more business, spread of wealth and increase in the local inhabitant’s knowledge. The credit goes to globalization for this because it has facilitated the global awareness programme (Dean, p.820).
Fourth argument against globalization is that if the production methods do not change of the companies the overall environmental quality will deteriorate as the trade between countries will increase, and the means of the capitalistic structure will improve. The rise in production will increase the scale of economic activity (Guillén, p.235). This specifically creates problems for developing economies because in order to foster development and competition in their economic system they tend to lose environmental standards to attract foreign investment. Hence, the liberalisation in trade policies will increase pollution especially in third world countries where all the manufacturing industries are located (Guillén, p.235).
The proponents of globalization believe that not only does globalization improve the economic condition of a country but also helps in generating funds that can help to foster environmental issues and concerns of the country (Pologeorgis, p.55). This is similar to what was discussed earlier that environment and globalization are inter-linked to each other and also inter-dependent. The survival of one depends upon the survival of other. One of the environmental advantages as proposed by the proponents of globalization is that it provides global cooperation, and integration into environmental standards and norms (Pologeorgis, p.55). This is enhancing the capacity of the countries to manage issues like climatic change and ozone depletion, etc. The rise in globalization is promoting environmental management process with the help of technologies to other nations along with transfer of assistance and knowledge. Improved environmental reforms have been introduced in order to curb the negative impacts of globalization (Pologeorgis, p.55).
What needs to be done in the future?
Globalization has its advantages and disadvantages, and we cannot deny that it is a growing phenomenon. Hence, it is important that certain actions should be taken to improve the situation to make it sustainable. Discussions regarding globalization might take place at global level; it is important that it should be implicated at national and local level in order to feel the true essence of globalization. It is obvious that benefitting from globalization, minimising the environmental threat and degradation all require proper planning, discussion, and capacity to incorporate all of it in the economic and business process. It is important that countries should invest in this regard especially the developing countries in order to gain long-term benefits by achieving sustainable development (Hersch, p.1657).
Conclusion
Globalization is a process through which economies and human societies have flourished and grown interdependent to each other excelling the cultural, economic, environmental and political impediments. In simple terms, globalization involves a free flow of capital, information, ideas across the globe. The impact of globalization in present day world is a growing phenomenon and it is an overheated topic as to the globalization has its advantages and disadvantages. Surely, there is no doubt that some very significant global processes involving cultural, political, environment and economic factors are underway that affects everyone and everything on this planet.
Work Cited
Brockington, D “ Powerful environmentalism: conservation, celebrity and capitalism” Media, Culture & Society, 30 (4), (2008), pp. 412-417.
Das, Niladri “ Impact of Globalization on Sustainable Development in the Indian Economy” Journal of International Economics, Vol. 4 Issue 2, (Jul-Dec 2013) p.99-114.
Dean, J. “ Does trade liberalisation harm the environment? A new test” Canadian Journal of Economics 35(4) (2002), pp. 819-842.
Guillén, M. F. “ Is globalization civilising, destructive or feeble? A critique of six key debates in the social science literature” Annual Review of Sociology, 27, (2001) p.235.
Hersch, J. Viscusi, K “ Allocating Responsibility for Failure of Global Warming Policies” Responses to Global Warming: The Law, Economics, and Science of Climate Change, 155(20): . (2006), 1657-1694.
Nayan Chanda “The Double Edge of Globalization: Intensified international trading affects the environment, but also raises global awareness” Yale Global (Jun 2007), p.2 http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/double-edge-globalization
Pologeorgis “Socioeconomic And Environmental Effects Of Globalization On The Transitional Economies Of Eastern And Central Europe” International Journal of Business & Economics Perspectives. Fall2011, Vol. 6 Issue 2, (Fall 2011) p55-69.
