Double Edge of Globalisation - Questions and Answers

The World Trade Organization is a driver of trade expansion in the world today. How has it indirectly contributed to the destruction of the global environment?

By trading on a more globalised level, there has been an increase in fishing, deforestation and pollution by large corporations throughout the developing world. Also, encouraging trade ultimately means an increased in consumption, which has increase logging in a number of areas worldwide.

It is mentioned that instantaneous transmissions of news and photos has turned many of us global citizens into receivers of many such ideas and facts. How does this affect us as readers and observers of these current affairs on globalisation and its impacts?

An impact of globalisation is global warming, which is a constant headliner in front-page news reports across the world. This allows readers to be more aware and wary of the situation outside of their own country. They now have a concern for the future and how the world's climate would be affected by it.

What is the link between 'carbon-emitting economic growth' and 'increasing trade and industrialization brought by globalisation'?

The connection between these two points are that with a booming trade industry, factories in the global market join the supply chain. 'Mines are exploited and timber is felled' to meet such demands.  Thus increasing carbon dioxide in the air. Also, factories openly pollute the land through waste disposal and contaminating the ground and water sources. These are absorbed into the air which eventually would affect the world through forms of acid rain.

With the help of joint action and commitment, some countries are able to avoid certain trends of heavy carbon emittance and deforestation. How did they manage to do it?

By the creation of certain protocols that are reinforced and monitored, like the Montreal Protocol, the ozone hole has become smaller around the countries who have agreed to the arrangement. Hence reduced the impact on the global environment. 

Not all consequences of globalisation negatively impact the environment, what are some positive results of globalisation?

With globalisation, there is economic growth and urbanisation. However, the benefit of this is actually improved public policies due to global awareness. Also nations have made a decision to go against their long term stand towards the destruction of their nation's forests.