SOCI 210 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Common-Pool Resource, Emission Intensity, Environmental Degradation
3 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Environment and Development
Monday April 9th
Introduction
• For a long period, economic growth has been the primary concern in development
studies
o Focus on environment comes after a certain level of economic development
o Inglehart: gender, environment, the rights movements, all come out after in rich
countries because poor countries are concerned with meeting basic needs
• In recent years, environment has risen as a key issue in international development
o Impact of humans on environment: better understanding and dissemination of
this environment
▪ Climate scientists
▪ Environmental degradation is impacting economic development
• SDGs
o Looking out for future generations, sustainable development goals
The Central Paradox and Contending Approaches
• The paradox: whereas economic development is needed to achieve well-being, the
process of economic growth often leads to environmental degradation which in turn
reduces well being
o Need it to eefit lives, ut it is harig people’s lives
Can be understood in multiple ways as:
• Collective action problem
o If everyone is benefitting from a public good, then why should I put an effort
o If your effort is going to be minimal in the end, and the benefits are public, then
why should you put in an effort
• Tragedy of the commons
o People always look out for their own interest
o People looking out for their own good even if it harms the environment and
future generations
• Degradation of global common pool resources
o Will reach a point where people will deplete/harm resources to the point where
you cannot use them
Increase in GDP and levels of carbon dioxide are directly correlated.
More GDP/capita means more carbon emission intensity
• Exceptions:
o Switzerland has high GDP but does not produce as much emissions
o Alternative pathways to producing emissions with development
Global Environmentalism and International Cooperation
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Introduction: for a long period, economic growth has been the primary concern in development studies, focus on environment comes after a certain level of economic development. Inglehart: gender, environment, the rights movements, all come out after in rich countries because poor countries are concerned with meeting basic needs. In recent years, environment has risen as a key issue in international development. Impact of humans on environment: better understanding and dissemination of this environment: climate scientists, environmental degradation is impacting economic development, sdgs, looking out for future generations, sustainable development goals. Can be understood in multiple ways as: collective action problem. If everyone is benefitting from a public good, then why should i put an effort. Increase in gdp and levels of carbon dioxide are directly correlated. More gdp/capita means more carbon emission intensity: exceptions, switzerland has high gdp but does not produce as much emissions, alternative pathways to producing emissions with development. Prote(cid:272)ti(cid:374)g thaila(cid:374)d"s ma(cid:374)groves: occurring because of shrimp farming.
