How is economic globalization implicated in climate change? In what ways has the current global political structure, especially the power of certain states and the influence of transnational corporations, complicated the search for climate solutions? How are local communities and activists across the world responding to the climate crisis?
Sample Solution
Economic globalization is implicated in climate change in a number of ways. Firstly, the production and consumption of goods are increasingly linked to global economic activities such as trade and investment. This has resulted in a dramatic increase in global greenhouse gas emissions, as large multinational companies move their operations to low-cost countries with little or no environmental regulations. Secondly, the rise of neoliberalism has spurred deregulation, privatization and unbridled market competition which have exacerbated environmental impacts since these policies favor short-term gains over long-term sustainability. Thirdly, economic growth continues to be concentrated among the wealthy countries while poor nations bear an unequal burden from the effects of climate change, due to their limited resources for adaptation and mitigation measures.