Political Ecology And Globalization

Introduction

Political ecology or economy identifies the relationships between political, economic and social factors while aligning with the environmental concerns and subtle changes that are continuously occurring (Phillips 2017). It has been observed that the use of the political ecology in anthropology studies are specifically driven towards identifying the decisions based on the different concerns that are being encountered in the environment while considering the aspects of political power, the social views and the economic aspects of a nation. For students who are delving into environmental studies dissertation help, understanding the interplay between all these factors becomes critical for comprehensive analysis. In this connection, the discussion would be applying the aspects of political ecology in order to identify the challenges and concerns that are being faced by the environment and thereby determine the strategic interventions or alternative theories that might be ascertained in order to pacify the threats that are imposed by globalization.

Key issues related to globalization and environment

Globalization has brought about subtle changes in the business environment with better connectivity and prospects of growth for the businesses in the different nations. The emergence of international trade and commerce has influenced the growth and expansion opportunities through the development of globalization. Schrecker, Birn and Aguilera (2018) opined that globalization developed different prospects for the continuous growth and expansion of the businesses situated in one economy while introducing the same to the international markets through better connectivity and transportation of supply chain operations. However, there are certain areas of concerns that are inflicted on the environment through international trade. The current section would be identifying the different issues and concerns that are related with globalization and the manner in which it has been inflicting a severe impact on the environment.

Transportation and supply chain activities are crucial towards ensuring the growth of an organization in the global markets. It has been observed that effective interconnectedness through supply chain management activities supports businesses in maintaining availability of their propositions in different economies. According to Rudolph and Figge (2017), efficient supply chain operations contributes towards building on the interconnectedness in the international markets while ensuring that an organization’s propositions are made available to the relevant target audience. The scope of international trade is influenced through the emergence of globalization by providing an opportunity to the businesses to make dynamic expansions and participate in international trade with the purpose of improving market position and sales. However, in the recent years it was observed through different reports that the increased amount of carbon emissions through the transportation and supply chain activities of the businesses has threatened the environmental sustenance.

Clapp, Newell and Brent (2018) stated in a research paper that different pollutants and particles along with a reasonable amount of carbon is emitted through the supply chain and logistics operations of businesses which is capable of degrading the natural flora and fauna. Moreover, the release of excessive amounts of carbon in the atmosphere has resulted to severe impacts like global warming and climate change in different places which has been again an integral cause for the destruction of the natural habitat of different species. According to a survey report, it was observed that the carbon emissions from different supply chain and logistics activities of the international businesses have contributed 7% to the air quality degradation around the world (Mattioli et al. 2020).

The increase in the rates of carbon emissions in the different nations has been creating serious concerns in the environmental and social perspectives. The degradation of air quality through carbon emissions has not only affected the environment resulting to climate change but also developed a trait of severe respiratory disorders among the inhabitants which literally disrupted the societal settings. Therefore, the carbon emission factor from different logistics and supply chain operations of the international businesses has been contributing towards extensive environmental and social concerns.

On the other hand, waste creation is again an important challenge that is being faced by the economies due to the increased globalization and expansion opportunities for the businesses. MacKinnon et al. (2019) observed in a research that the global functioning of businesses has increased the amount of wastes by 27% with an annual growth rate of 1.6%. In this connection, wastes are generated by the businesses through their operational units, the packaging sections and distribution channels. On the other hand, the improper treatment of wastes or the inability of a business sin addressing specific waste management measures has significantly influenced the growth of waste dumping areas around the world.

As per the research report of Wiedmann and Lenzen (2018), 63% of the wastes are in form of non- biodegradable materials which are directly dumped in the environment by the customers or the companies which has resulted to a higher rate of wastes in the different regions around the world. The insufficiency of waste treatment processes and the increased dependence on the non-biodegradable substances has significantly affected the capability of the businesses, while operating in the globalized economies, to address the environmental and societal concerns. The wastes being accumulated and openly dumped degrade the water, soil and air quality of the regions which might affect the health and safety of the people living the societies (Mayer, Phillips and Posthuma 2017). On the other hand, the untreated wastes being dumped openly might affect the natural flora and fauna, resulting to extinction of different species, affecting the environment.

Global political economy of key environmental issues

The increased awareness on the environmental and social concerns has led most of the governments around the world to take drastic measures in order to reduce the challenges that are posed by globalization and international trade. According to Newell and Taylor (2018), the increase in the awareness among the people has resulted to trends relating sustainable consumption and ethical purchase behavior. The aspects of political economy and the interests are specifically reliant on the concerns related to environmental degradation, climate change and the safety or the interests of the people living in the societies. There has been significant changes and impositions made by the local and state governments in different economies around the world in order to reduce the rate of challenges of an international trade function. However, briberies and corruption in the different departments has been noticed as an integral restricting factor that limited the scope of operations while guiding the aspects of change and organizational operations.

According to Della Porta (2017), although there are specific measures and impositions made by the governments in order to reduce the threats of waste generation or carbon emissions through organizational operations, corruption and bribery related practices has significantly reduced the scope of the conservational programs. As per a survey report, around 15% of the global wastes are dumped in China, Taiwan, Myanmar and the like (Görg et al. 2017). The developed economies has been using the emerging and developing economies as their dumping grounds for decades. On the other hand, the emerging economies are still struggling to adopt different strategic interventions towards a green supply chain operations and logistics which has drastically resulted to the increase in carbon emissions. Petricevic and Teece (2019) stated in a research that incapability of the businesses to adopt the futuristic and fuel efficient technologies has reduced the scope for the economies to control the degree of carbon emissions. Increased rate of carbon emissions has been heavily impacting the environment resulting to climate change, the disappearance of certain species, flora and fauna along with the increased rate of respiratory, cardio and psychological ailments among the population.

Appreciation of alternative ideas for greening globalization

Alternative ideas have been positioned by most economies and governments with the purpose of reducing the impact of carbon emissions and ill treatment of wastes. According to Della Porta (2017), the positioning of different alternative interventions has significantly supported the nations and their governments to monitor and control over the different environmental, social and economic concerns that are indebted to globalization. The fast paced changes in the global business environment and the increased possibilities of making dynamic expansions have empowered the growth of the businesses. However, governments in different nations have prioritized benevolence as an important aspect that might be considered by the businesses, while setting up international trade routes. Almost all the governments in the nations have identified the requirement of an efficient waste management metrics. Most of the economies have imposed waste management requirements that must be fulfilled by the businesses before ensuring their expansion in the economies.

The aspects of systematic and scientific waste management practices that are imposed by the governments on the business operations has significantly supported towards reducing the extent of waste generation while empowering the control mechanisms as well. Phillips (2017) stated that the governments of different international economies recorded positive outcomes from the different areas of waste management practices that are both systematic and scientific. The development of different waste management practices that are followed by the businesses has extensively reduced the degree of waste generation. Most of the international businesses have taken to lean manufacturing which significantly supported them in reducing the residual wastes that are generated in the manufacturing process. On the other hand, Mattioli et al. (2020) observed that businesses have taken a diversion towards the use of biodegradable resources rather than non- biodegradable ones which has again supported towards eliminating wastes and controlling the impact of the same on the environment and population. Moreover, most economies have taken the initiative of monitoring and controlling over the logistics and supply chain based operations of the business units. Government and different other social organizations has been providing grants and funds to the entrants with the purpose of promoting the use of EVs rather than fuel based vehicles.

Wiedmann and Lenzen (2018) opined that the activities of the government and different social enterprises towards promoting the use of EVs has been one of the major aspects that contributed extensively towards the reduction of carbon emissions. The reduction or eradication of carbon emissions through the use of EVs from the supply chain operations or logistics is supportive towards ensuring a green globalization practice. The different strategic interventions and directions are bringing in positive results while addressing the social and environmental concerns. However, in certain situations the increased costs of implementing the sustainable techniques might act as a resistance for the businesses and governments to address the social and ecological responsibilities. Therefore, it might be stated that most economies has taken the initiative of imposing different legislative and regulatory requirements in order to safeguard the social and environmental interests while some other emerging economies are failing to address the sustenance and green globalization based needs, due to the shortage of sufficient economic growth.

Conclusion

Therefore, from the above assessment it might be concluded that globalization has greatly supported the growth of different business while encouraging their indulgence in international trade and commerce. However, specific challenges elated to environmental and social perspectives emerged as a cause of intense competition and increased tradeoffs conducted by the businesses in the global markets. The discussion focused towards identifying the challenges from the point of view of a political economy or ecology while appreciating the different green initiatives that are taken in order to reduce the impact of globalization on the environment and social interests.

Looking for further insights on Importance of Data and Simulation Models? Click here.

References

Clapp, J., Newell, P. and Brent, Z.W., 2018. The global political economy of climate change, agriculture and food systems. The Journal of Peasant Studies, 45(1), pp.80-88.

Della Porta, D., 2017. Political economy and social movement studies: The class basis of anti-austerity protests. Anthropological Theory, 17(4), pp.453-473.

Görg, C., Brand, U., Haberl, H., Hummel, D., Jahn, T. and Liehr, S., 2017. Challenges for social-ecological transformations: Contributions from social and political ecology. Sustainability, 9(7), p.1045.

MacKinnon, D., Dawley, S., Pike, A. and Cumbers, A., 2019. Rethinking path creation: A geographical political economy approach. Economic Geography, 95(2), pp.113-135.

Mattioli, G., Roberts, C., Steinberger, J.K. and Brown, A., 2020. The political economy of car dependence: A systems of provision approach. Energy Research & Social Science, 66, p.101486.

Mayer, F.W., Phillips, N. and Posthuma, A.C., 2017. The political economy of governance in a ‘global value chain world’. New Political Economy, 22(2), pp.129-133.

Newell, P. and Taylor, O., 2018. Contested landscapes: the global political economy of climate-smart agriculture. The Journal of Peasant Studies, 45(1), pp.108-129.

Petricevic, O. and Teece, D.J., 2019. The structural reshaping of globalization: Implications for strategic sectors, profiting from innovation, and the multinational enterprise. Journal of International Business Studies, 50(9), pp.1487-1512.

Phillips, N., 2017. Power and inequality in the global political economy. International Affairs, 93(2), pp.429-444.

Rudolph, A. and Figge, L., 2017. Determinants of ecological footprints: what is the role of globalization?. Ecological Indicators, 81, pp.348-361.

Schrecker, T., Birn, A.E. and Aguilera, M., 2018. How extractive industries affect health: Political economy underpinnings and pathways. Health & place, 52, pp.135-147.

Wiedmann, T. and Lenzen, M., 2018. Environmental and social footprints of international trade. Nature Geoscience, 11(5), pp.314-321.