What challenges do ecological concerns present to traditional theories of international relations?

Angelo Manetta – K0834961

IN2118:

What challenges do ecological concerns present to traditional theories of international relations?

The environmental challenges throughout the world are numerous and complex. Most governments and institutions now clearly realize that environmental issues are now directly related with other social/ cultural and socioeconomic issues. Promoting sustainable growth and assuring the protection of biodiversity on the planet is the only path forward for human survival.

Decades of environmental mismanagement have created a severe scenario that is affecting negatively all living beings on planet. The main environmental issues faced by humanity today are related to climate change, scarcity of recourses, unsustainable economic and social growth, pollution and depletion and exploitation of biodiversity.

Climate change is the most worrying environmental issue today. Thousands of scientists and organizations worldwide have being warning mankind of the signs and effects of climate change for over a century; i.e.:

“Since the onset of the industrial era, human consumption of fossil fuels has released large amounts of stored carbon into the atmosphere and thus increased the atmospheric concentrations by more than 30 per cent. According to the greenhouse theory these human-induced carbon emissions are the main cause of anthropogenic climate change.” (Lovbrand, E., Stripple, J., 2006, page 217);

“Prior to the Industrial Revolution carbon dioxide was fairly stable at about 270 parts per million in the atmosphere. Now it’s getting close to 400 parts per million and forecasts for the rest of this century suggests that it might get as high as 500 parts per million or close to double its pre-industrial levels.” (Dalby, S., 2009, page 51)

There is very strong evidence that emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, CFC gases and methane released into the atmosphere by the combustion of fossil fuels are the main