Threats to Global Environment Report

Threats to Global Environment Report

Introduction

Global warming continues to be a threat to the lives of us and the next generation. Many nations today report a serious change in the climate and seasonal patterns. The threats that environmental changes posses on human beings and all living animals is tremendous a reason why many researchers are constantly trying to make awareness on the need for human being to preserve the environment. For example, The United Nations under United Nations Environmental Program has held many initiatives which aim at preserving the environment. Many threats to the environment today are artificial which is something that could be rectified.

In this paper, I will be offering in depth analysis on some of the different threats to the global environment focusing more on the least causes and why I consider them to have less effect on the environment. The four main threats that I will discuss in this paper are inappropriate use of technology, energy sources, globalization and cultural taboos respectively. Considering that the aim of this paper is to discuss the two less threats to the environment, my chosen threats are globalization and cultural taboos.

Threat I: Globalization

Globalization is defined as the process of interacting, trading and associating with people on an international level. According to with the increasing issues with global environment, many individuals and organizations consider globalization and increasing human activities on an international level to be one threat that affects the environment. Although this is the case, globalization has the least effect on the environment as explained below.

First of all, the international trade and interaction of people doe not have a direct link to any negative effect to the environment. The reason why I think this could be because globalizations has facilitated trade and social developments withing the nations and by doing so there is no direct way in which it had affected the environment unless linked up to other factors which leads to environmental risks, (“Globalization may actually be better for the environment”, 2020). For example if we compare globalization and the use of technology and their subsequent effect to the environment, it is very clear that technology has more direct effects to the environment unlike globalization.

The second reason is that globalization has actually aided in the way in which people are dealing with the issue of climate risks. For example, through globalization, nations can now access various environment friendly technologies which aim at aiming things like greenhouse gas and other factors, (Copehald, 2020). This is achieved through international trade between continents and as a result ends up helping in restoring the environment. This is very least when compared to a threat like emission of natural gasses to the environment which could be harmful.

The third reason why globalization is the least compared to the other factors is because globalization has given individuals a platform to discuss global environment issues and create awareness about this problem to our generation as explained by (“Positive Impact of Globalization on the Environment – Impact Of Globalization”, 2020). As I explained before, globalization has had tremendous effect on social life of people and more so this is through the use of the internet. With the use of the internet today different people can learn about effects of global warming and the threats that can lead to environmental risks. Hence by doing so people are able to learn on where to make changes and adjustments to reduce this problem. For example, through the use of social media, different organizations and influencers are always trying to teach the masses on different environmental issues. For example, just in the past recent month, the amazon forest was burning. Many organizations and influencers took to social media to announce the issue and even solicited for donations to save the forest in order to avoid global calamities.

Threat 2: Cultural Taboo

Cultural taboos are the beliefs and practices of people within a certain society. Some researchers believe that there are different cultural taboos and practices which have a potential effect on the environment and that if the trend continues then it could affect the environment. Although this case could be true, cultural taboos has the least effect on the environment than the rest of the effects that were outlined.  Below are some of the reasons why cultural taboos affect the environment less as cultural taboos actually promote environmental conservation in the following ways.

Many cultural taboos are always concerned with protecting any threatened species. When we discuss global environment, this does not mean human beings alone but this encampuses animals as well which are also being threatened by environmental changes. As a result, many cultural taboos or cultural practices aim at ensuring that different species are well protected and any individual who may be found violating such species whether its animals or trees could be punished severely this is well explained by (Drury, Homewood & Randall, 2011).

Also, other cultural taboos reduce economical pressure on certain animals or plants which may be to avoid extinguishing the plants. This is done mainly through preventing the sale of such animals or plants. By doing so this in the end ends up protecting the environment more than doing harm to it. For example, in some traditional African society, certain tress is believed to be medicinal and used for treating different illnesses, (JONES, ANDRIAMAROVOLOLONA & HOCKLEY, 2008). In such society they put so many restrictions in things like deforestation which could extinct medical trees.

In many cultures, individuals perceive natural resources as part of their identity and part of their culture,. Hence by perceiving the environment they live in as their culture; this fosters such individuals to protect their identity as well as protecting the natural resources and the environment, (Waylen, Fisher , McGowan, Thirgood & Miller, 2010). In the end this ends up fostering environmental conservation.

Summary

From the above discussion it is evident that both globalization and cultural taboos have the least negative effects to the environment when compared to other threats like use of technology and natural sources. Globalization and cultural taboos can be used as a means of making awareness about environmental conservation. For example, The United Nations could encourage communities which cultural taboos that aim at protecting the environment animals and tree to continue doing and motivate them more. By doing so this could attract other societies and hence people become more environmentally aware.

It is also evident that from the four factors stated at the start of this report, namely inappropriate use of technology, natural resources, globalization and cultural taboos, the United Nations should prioritize creating awareness on threats like inappropriate use of technology and use of natural resources. The UN should create more initiatives aiming to teach people on the need to use technology properly in order to reduce environmental pollution and the risk that comes with inappropriate use of technology. The agency should also sensitize people on the need to use natural resources sparingly. By doing so this will reduce extinction of natural resource hence slowly restoring the ecosystem.

References

Globalization may actually be better for the environment. (2020). Retrieved 11 March 2020, from http://theconversation.com/globalization-may-actually-be-better-for-the-environment-95406

Copeland, B. R. (2009). Globalization and the environment. Welcome to the electronic edition of Australia’s Economy in its International Context, volume 2. The book opens with the bookmark panel and you will see the contents page/s. Click on this anytime to return to the contents. You can also add your own bookmarks., 575.

Positive Impact of Globalization on the Environment – Impact Of Globalization. (2020). Retrieved 11 March 2020, from https://sites.google.com/site/impactofglobalization/course-feedback

Drury, R., Homewood, K., & Randall, S. (2011). Less is more: the potential of qualitative approaches in conservation research. Animal Conservation, 14(1), 18-24. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-1795.2010.00375.x

JONES, J., ANDRIAMAROVOLOLONA, M., & HOCKLEY, N. (2008). The Importance of Taboos and Social Norms to Conservation in Madagascar. Conservation Biology, 22(4), 976-986. doi: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2008.00970.x

WAYLEN, K., FISCHER, A., MCGOWAN, P., THIRGOOD, S., & MILNER-GULLAND, E. (2010). Effect of Local Cultural Context on the Success of Community-Based Conservation Interventions. Conservation Biology, 24(4), 1119-1129. doi: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2010.01446.x