“How to respond to climate change and revive the world economy are challenges of our times that we must meet” (Nikkei Asia 2021). These words were part of the written speech that Xi Jinping sent to...Show more“How to respond to climate change and revive the world economy are challenges of our times that we must meet” (Nikkei Asia 2021). These words were part of the written speech that Xi Jinping sent to the World Leaders Summit at the 26th Conference of the Parties in 2021. Climate change is the crux of many countries and their governments all over the world, directly and indirectly affecting not only people and their livelihoods and prospects, but also processes such as economic development and social stability. Especially the Chinese Communist Party, which has underpinned its legitimacy partially with economic growth, is realizing that the quality of its environment needs to be improved if it wants to safeguard its authority and security. A tool that many democratic governments use to streamline their environmental management is public participation, but China as an authoritarian state does not always boast the institutions necessary to guide such activities. Nevertheless, grassroots forms of participation are present, and the Chinese civil society is always assessing the permissible boundaries of its involvement. To ensure the environment is managed in such a way that the desired economic growth is still possible, the Chinese government is experimenting with forms of public participation. Therefore, this thesis looks at how the Chinese government views public participation in environmental governance. Using a comparative analysis of two case studies, it is concluded that the government is appraising new channels of participation in the management and improvement of the country’s environment. Despite this, public participation is still viewed as a threat to the stability of the state's security and is still harshly prohibited.Show less
Anthropogenic environmental destruction on a global scale continues at an ever-increasing pace, driven by a disconnect between the valuation of short-term economic gains and their ecological impact...Show moreAnthropogenic environmental destruction on a global scale continues at an ever-increasing pace, driven by a disconnect between the valuation of short-term economic gains and their ecological impact. Increasingly, the introduction of indigenous intellectual perspectives to the global stage – many of whom have been custodians of ecologically important land for centuries – is being treated as a potential solution to this conundrum. In this evolving context, this thesis seeks to understand the role of African indigenous knowledge in global environmental protection. To answer this, a review of the practical and philosophical contributions of African indigenous communities to ecology is conducted, followed by a discourse analysis of the 2019 Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, to identify how these knowledges are treated in a global context. Analysis of the report and of academic literature shows that African indigenous knowledges, while potentially incredibly valuable as environmental protection, are poorly represented on a global level, both in their content, and in comparison with other regions.Show less
Burkina Faso may face severe consequences of climate change. Extreme climate events are predicted to happen more often in the coming years due to global warming, which may affect issues such as...Show moreBurkina Faso may face severe consequences of climate change. Extreme climate events are predicted to happen more often in the coming years due to global warming, which may affect issues such as food security. This thesis examines the Mossi population in Burkina Faso, through the Sustainable Livelihood Framework, in order to understand the extent to which culture shapes the vulnerability of Burkinabé rural livelihoods to climate change. Mossi culture is intrinsically related to their resource management. Collectivism is strongly present in the Mossi population in Burkina Faso, expressed in the sharing of vital resources with all members of the household. Ethnographic research has identified the importance of human capital, natural capital and social capital for Mossi livelihoods. Both labour, food, water and land are influenced by social capital which, in turn, is shaped by the culture of collectivism and sharing. Thus, the Mossi are more focused on the well-being of the entire community than their individual well-being. Yet, within these households, inequality based on age and gender is still present, specifically women will be more vulnerable to climate change due to the power relations embedded in the culture, as their adaptive capacity to climate change is more negatively affected.Show less
The 2008 US presidential election was notable for many reasons. Concerning environmental issues, both candidates, Barack Obama for the Democrats, and John McCain for the Republicans, took distance...Show moreThe 2008 US presidential election was notable for many reasons. Concerning environmental issues, both candidates, Barack Obama for the Democrats, and John McCain for the Republicans, took distance from the Bush administration. Obama’s victory more than ever brought a sparkle of hope for change. Environmentalists both in the United States and worldwide were pleased from his first actions as president, that looked up to what he campaigned the months before. This thesis analyses Obama’s rhetoric and practice on energy and climate change from his first presidential campaign trail in 2008 until the end of his second mandate in 2016, in order to assess whether he ‘walked the talk’ on environmental matters. Moreover, it considers Obama’s position as an environmentalist, by looking at the energy security discourse and at its implications for climate change and global security.Show less
This paper researched several aspects contributing to the obstruction the United States faces when considering the implementation of international environmental policies. In 1997, the Kyoto...Show moreThis paper researched several aspects contributing to the obstruction the United States faces when considering the implementation of international environmental policies. In 1997, the Kyoto Protocol was supposed to be a pivotal step in the international fight against climate change. However, the United States made the decision not to ratify this treaty. Since the Kyoto Protocol, the views of the American public on environmental issues have become increasingly polarized. The fossil fuel industry and the conservative movement both undertake actions with the aim to prevent the implementation of climate change legislation. The fossil fuel industry spends millions of dollars annually on obstructive climate lobbying. The goal of this lobbying is to influence the political sphere to oppose environmental regulations. There is a negative relation between the conservative movement and environmentalism, especially among political elites. The conservative movement is often opposed to environmentalism due to the fact that the ideology behind the conservative movement is against government intervention. The actions taken by the conservative movement and the fossil fuel industry are executed in order to weaken the position of the environmental movement. In order to minimize the negative effects of global warming, the threat of climate change needs to be put on the national agenda. Governmental support is needed to prevent the United States from continuing to be one of the largest contributors to the global amount of carbon dioxide emissions. In this thesis, the actions of the fossil fuel industry and the conservative movement are examined in order to understand the role they have in the obstruction of environmental agreements in the United States.Show less
