Iisd. (2019, January). Environmental Law Review Explores Need for Global Pact | News | SDG Knowledge Hub | IISD. Retrieved from https://sdg.iisd.org/news/environmental-law-review-explores-need-for-global-pact/

This paper discusses the need for universalizing environmental pacts basically to ensure that everyone involved is on the same “wavelength.” Citing language barriers, a difference in technical terms in different locations etc. the author calls for ensuring greater understanding for all parties.

I agree with the author of this paper. While I am not totally sure of how accurate or relevant her claims are of there being rampant confusion in environmental pacts, I de believe that the best case would just to be sure that there is no confusion at all. Weighing based on a risk/reward sort of mechanism, to me it makes perfect sense to put in whatever extra work required to ensure more robust pacts that are respected by those involved.

Itzhak, Zahi, & Viehs, B. K. (2019, February 04). Harvard Business Review Research: When Environmental Regulations Are Tighter at Home, Companies Emit More Abroad. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2019/02/research-when-environmental-regulations-are-tighter-at-home-companies-emit-more-abroad

This research paper discusses a study done by Harvard University investigating the rate of greenhouse emissions per country based on their imports, exports, and manufacturing locations. The study found that when a country such as the United States tightens their environmental regulations and begins to emit less, a country they have (usually manufacturing) relations with will increase their emissions at a similar rate. The underlying evidence indicates that the emissions were effectively just transferred overseas to a location with less strict regulation, sometimes called a pollution haven.

This is an issue which we have been trying to tackle in other industries for  a while and has proven very difficult to enforce. For example, US citizens may hold assets overseas in tax haven countries where they can get away with paying lower taxes. It is imperative however that we solve this problem as it offsets any positive changes that happens in a country. I think a great way to approach this dilemma is from a point of global treaties such as the Paris accord, but making sure that less developed or wealthy countries are still included, as these often have large manufacturing industries or other energy-intensive/environmentally destructive practices.

Commentary: CEOs Need to Lead on Climate Change Policy. (2019, February). Retrieved from http://fortune.com/2019/02/21/climate-change-policy-corporate-sustainability/

This article discusses the importance of businesses implementing their own measures to comply with environmental laws and regulation. It is a simple idea overall, basically stating that if businesses do not change their ways to fit within new regulation, there will be no forward progress in fighting climate change.

I am in strong agreement with the opinion written into this article. Another article I did earlier talked about how despite environmental law and regulation, most nations are not able to improve their impact on the natural ecosystem at the rate they should be able to. It is pointless and even counterproductive to enact policy without following it. One, there is clearly no progress if nothing changes and then things can actually be made worse due to consequences of a masking effect outlined by Harvard cognitive scientist Steven Pinker. The masking effect constitutes that there is an illusion of something good, progress being made, when there is actually none. This causes people to relax even more because they are captured by the illusion that things are better than they actually are.  

190204124200. (2019, February 04). Environmental regulations may have unintended consequences in energy production. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190204124200.htm

This article discuss results from a study done by Carnegie Mellon University on unintended consequences of alternative energy production. The results of the study were concerning as it was discovered that while most countries have passed laws and regulations to protect natural ecosystems, this often resulted in energy production consequences such as emitting more greenhouse gasses than before.

This study was conducted over 110 countries and 33 states within the US, concluding that the preservation of natural ecosystems often serves as an opportunity cost regarding greenhouse emissions. Carnegie Mellon found that “on average, each megawatt of fossil fuel power-generating capacity added to the grid because of environmental constraints on hydropower development led to an increase in annual carbon dioxide emissions of about 1,400 tons.” We have to decide how we as a society want to balance our efforts between preservation of ecosystems and considering greenhouse emissions. I think that prioritizing renewable energy could help to mitigate both of these issues simultaneously.

Brown, K. (2019, January 29). Most Countries Have Environmental Regulations. Very Few Actually Abide by Them. Retrieved from https://psmag.com/environment/the-key-to-climate-change-is-getting-countries-to-follow-the-law

This article illustrates a study done by the United Nations which illuminates a near-ubiquitous disregard for environmental law and regulation globally. It found that there are 176 countries with environmental regulations, but 172 countries seem to be very relaxed around enforcement and the like. The remainder of the article discusses the dangers of not protecting the planet, which all of us are very familiar with by now.

This article sparked worry for me and makes me feel uncomfortable on the grounds of helplessness. It upsets me because we can see people who understand the dire implications of not respecting the environment are able to cause policy change but that often has next to zero tangible effects. It seems to be a common theme throughout the planet that environmental laws are not taken as seriously as other regulations and policy which is a dangerous precedent to set as it normalizes the low value placed on the environment.