DVM 2106 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Nuclear Weapons Testing, Metrology, United Nations Environment Programme
21 Jun 2018
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LECTURE 9: Climate Change, Environment and Development
- Greatest development challenge of our century, with its impact touching present and future
generations!
- Environment as a basis for human development… but its degradation has worsened human well-
being
- Challenge is finding optimal solutions for balancing environmental protection and economic
growth
Rise of environment
A) Extensive and increasing impact of humans on all aspects of the environment
B) Human cause of environment damages is well informed by the means of science and
technology, and their capacity to communicate and disseminate
C) Propensity of environmental degradation to undermine the very basis of economic development
and human well-being
Central Paradox of Environment and Development
- Negative correlation between environment and economic growth
- Collective action problems… individuals find it very difficult to take meaningful action on their
own
-Tragedy of commons: each individual wishes to take maximum benefit for the common
resources, such as forest, grazing land, ultimately led to degrade the environment. It also
disadvantages one not being able to uses the resources.
Global environmentalism
- Campaigns to draw attention against the hazards of nuclear weapons testing in 1960s
- Silent Spring (Carson, 1962): intellectual debate against the uncontrolled and unexamined
pesticide making way into human food chain
- Limits of Growth (Meadows, 1972): environmental regulation and conservation to address the
consequences of rapid population growth and environmental degradation
- UN Conference in human environment in Stockholm (1972) – need to safeguard the human
environment
- UNEP (1972) to lead UN’s work on environment with international development
Climate Change
- Natural elements that are external to the climate system
- Human actions/interventions
Burning of fossil fuels and conversion of land for agriculture and forestry
Change in land surface and emit carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas
Net result can have both warming and cooling effects on the climate
Disasters
- Natural disasters: hazards caused by geophysical, hydrological, climatological, metrological or
biological events
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
Greatest development challenge of our century, with its impact touching present and future generations! Environment as a basis for human development but its degradation has worsened human well- being. Challenge is finding optimal solutions for balancing environmental protection and economic growth. Collective action problems individuals find it very difficult to take meaningful action on their own. Tragedy of commons: each individual wishes to take maximum benefit for the common resources, such as forest, grazing land, ultimately led to degrade the environment. It also disadvantages one not being able to uses the resources. Campaigns to draw attention against the hazards of nuclear weapons testing in 1960s. Silent spring (carson, 1962): intellectual debate against the uncontrolled and unexamined pesticide making way into human food chain. Limits of growth (meadows, 1972): environmental regulation and conservation to address the consequences of rapid population growth and environmental degradation. Un conference in human environment in stockholm (1972) need to safeguard the human environment.
