International Law, Climate Change and the Arctic- The relevance of the Sustainable Development policy

Résumé du document

The environmental degradation expressed by the proliferation of phenomena as the destruction of the fauna and flaura, the deforestation, the proliferation of Permanent Organic Pollutant, the expansion of the hole in the ozone, global warming reflect the necessity of a global environmental action plan. But environmental issues are not only states'issues. The individuals have to play a role in that whole environmental situation by separating their waste to improve the recycling of wastes, reduce their gas emission by taking public transport, supporting sustainable products.

Considering the emergence of new economic superpowers such as China, India which has seriously changed the whole global order, it is legitimate to ask if the concept of sustainable development is still relevant nowadays and is not an unreachable ideal. Supporters of the « Degrowth » theory claim that sustainable development is a contradictory term, because it is still based on the development by the growth. Moreover, the degrowth theory denounces the danger of the actual world order which is based on the economic growth, development and research by the consumption of resources. The authors supporting that theory put the environmental problem in a more general perspective by affirming that Humanity has reached a point where growth, technological development is pointless and jeopardize the future of Earth.

Extraits

[...] International Law, Climate Change and the Arctic- The relevance of the Sustainable Development policy TABLE OF CONTENTS introduction 3-4 THE BEGINNING OF A GLOBAL AWARENESS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THE FIRST STEPS OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAW 2. THE EMERGENCE OF A SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT II/ THE LIMITED EFFECTIVENESS OF THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGY OF STATES 2.2 THE INFLUENCE OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGE Conclusion 10-11 REFERENCES 11 - 12 Introduction "The power of population is indefinitely greater than the power in the earth to produce subsistence for man" Thomas Robert Malthus is an English economist who wrote the principle of population in 1798, he highlights in this essay the problem of substicence of Humanity considering two factors : the population growth and the limited amount of resources in Earth which won't be able to provide indefinitly the needs of future generations. [...]

[...] The outcomes of the environmental policy are not fully successful, even if some principles are implemented in International Law such as the Precautionary Principle or the Polluter pays principle, the environmental situation is still catastrophic. The proliferation of multilateral environmental agreements shows the mobilization of the international community to deal with environmental matters. The environmental conferences are attracting more and more people from governments, non-governmental organizations People are getting involved in environmental issues and are invited to change their consumption patterns. [...]

[...] The government encourage people to become involved in environmental projects by offering fundings to the entreprenors. The household waste management policy has been restructured in order to save the energy by using recycling of glass, plastic bottles, paper It is through education that goes public awareness . The French law contains specific environmental law instruments : the Environmental Charter of 2005 [7]which promotes the protection of the environment, the role of individuals in the decision- making process. Sustainable development is now integrated into urbanism management . [...]

[...] However, the individuals from these countries still consider that sustainable development is not a priority considering that they suffer from the lack of vital resources, they cannot think about the needs of future generation in natural resources because they cannot meet their own actual needs. Conclusion: It is undisputable that the sustainable development concept is one of the main key of the XXI century by being a response to the disastrous environmental situation. Taking into consideration the economic development of countries express the will of integrating not only the north countries but also the south countries by the principle of common but differentiated responsibility. [...]

[...] Moreover, the degrowth theory denounces the danger of the actual world order which is based on the economic growth, development and research by the consumption of resources. The authors supporting that theory put the environmental problem in a more general perspective by affirming that Humanity has reached a point where growth, technological development is pointless and jeopardize the future of Earth. Indeed, it is rationally impossible to growth in a sustainable manner by consuming finite resources, considering that fact, the pursuit of growth as the main goal of society will lead to a lack of vital resources.[2] Indeed, the challenge of sustainable development combined many issues as the balance of responsibilities between developing and developed countries, the preservation of natural resources, protection of endangered species which require a global mobilization and the possibility of controlling states and individuals' behavior to provide them to harm the environment. [...]