Environmental Issues are considered to be global, largely due to the idea that it transcends borders and rely on transnational co-operation to tackle the challenges we face - particularly regarding climate change and energy insecurity. Evidence of a lack of consensus between states in relation to the environment are observed in the Kyoto Protocol, the UNFCCC and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
This can be connected to Garret Hardin's 'Tragedy of The Commons' article, written in 1968, which emphasized the economic theory that independently acting individuals, or, in this case, states in their own self interest will act contrarily to other groups or states best interests by exploiting resources or land e.g. overfishing or overgrazing. This idea relates heavily to the realist notion of state egoism, as states are constantly attempting to better themselves and increase supply to match their populations demand, this issue becoming even more prominent with an explosive population and growing middle class in rapidly developing countries such as the BRICS, largely due to India and China's growth in the pursuit of national interest.
This is where the 'free rider' problem comes into effect, whereby a nation will partake in the benefits of a group's environmental initiatives, without taking action themselves. This either undermines the work of these intergovernmental groups by lessening their success or acts as a disincentive for other nations as they fall into the categories of leaders, followers or free riders. Australia is an example of a nation criticized for not taking action against climate change as part of the Kyoto Protocol. The nation has been claimed to attempt to 'wreck' negotiations internationally, as Prime Minister Tony Abbott describes "Australia would not take action on climate change that clobbers our economy." The existence of 'rational free riders' has meant that countries are able to refuse contributing to environmental action if they are benefiting from the alternative. Previously, Australia has also introduced legislation to repeal carbon tax in favour of a capped 'Direct Action' of voluntary payments, which will be limited regardless of Australia's success in a 5% reduction of emissions. Still far from pulling it's weight, the 'Australia Clause' has allowed both Australia and Japan to increase emissions while others face international pressures. This can cause a dispute based on the accountability and responsibility of the nation states to take equal action on environmental issues.
The economic ramifications of a response to environmental issues is applicable to the US co-operation with the Kyoto Protocol, as they initially, in 1998, signed the treaty, only to disengage and not ratify the agreement since 2001. This has become further reason for other nations such as China, which is often caught in environmental disputes with the US, to reject the policies of intergovernmental organizations.
Nations at different stages of development tend to disagree on environmental issues, it is unfair to asks developing nations in Africa for instance to create policy to protect the environment when they do not possess the means and resources to implement them, nor have they largely contributed to the current state the planet is in.
In the last decade and dating back to the 1990s, however, there has been a growing consensus in terms of environmental concerns; particularly the attitudinal change of nations such as the United States and China. So ultimately, despite many adverse opinions on the importance of environmental issues in the 21st Century and how governments and intergovernmental groups should approach the subject, it is understood that environmental issues transcends borders and should be tackled in the same nature.
