Globalization's Impact: Environmental Pollution and Degradation Essay

This essay examines the environmental consequences of globalization, arguing that environmental pollution is a significant price of increased global interconnectedness. It explores the effects on various aspects of life, including economic, cultural, social, and political spheres. The essay discusses how globalization has boosted trade and commerce, leading to increased employment opportunities, but also highlights the negative impacts on the environment, such as air pollution, climate change, and the consumption of resources. It analyzes the roles of major polluting industries, including mining, manufacturing, and transportation, in carbon emissions and environmental degradation. The essay further compares the growth of GDP with indicators like ISEW and GPI, demonstrating the decline in environmental and social welfare despite economic growth. It emphasizes the impact of multinational corporations and the increase in fossil fuel consumption as key contributors to environmental damage, concluding that the environment pays a heavy price for globalization.

Running head: THE PRICE OF GLOBALIZATION IS ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
THE PRICE OF GLOBALIZATION IS ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
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THE PRICE OF GLOBALIZATION IS ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Introduction
The phenomenon of globalization has transformed the world in ways that was not
possible to imagine a century ago. The effects could be visible in all aspects of life starting from
economic, cultural, social and political. However, the one aspect that has been affected
negatively is the environment. This aspect is often neglected in the discourses involving
globalization. In the recent years only, some focus is given to the negative effects of
globalization on environment. The Guardian published a report last year in October where it
stated the fast approaching dangers of climate change (Watts, 2019).
The main argument of this essay is that the price of globalization is actually
environmental pollution despite its various benefits.
Discussion
Globalization has been a great boon to trade and commerce as countries across the globe
are now exporting and importing goods at a higher rate. This has in turn helped increase
employment opportunities with multinational companies being established throughout the world.
As the OECD report finds, globalization has helped trade grow substantially in the past few
decades and the annual growth rate of world trade was 5.7% between 1951 and 2004 (Oecd.org,
2019). At present, the growth rate is 7.4% as per the OECD report (Oecd.org, 2019). These facts
reveal the positive economic impact of globalization. However, when it came to assessing the
impact of globalization on environment, initial researches posed questions such as what are
environmental regulations’ impact on trade. This shows that initially, environmental impact of
globalization was not given enough consideration. In the sections that follow, globalization’s
impact on environment shall be discussed in details.

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THE PRICE OF GLOBALIZATION IS ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Environmental pollution and global economy
Brimblecombe (2005) highlighted the impact of global economy on air pollution in his
study titled The globalization of local air pollution. The author states that the modern day
pollution is not limited to local boundaries as global pollutant emissions are based on “people’s
choice of transport, agriculture and industry” that has become increasingly global due to
globalization (Brimblecombe 2005). According to Newell, (2012), the environmental pollution
such as air pollution, acid rain and increasing global warming have become the major reason of
concern in the global economy. There is an increasing global impact due to economic
development and increasing problems of the global “externalities”. They are considered to be
hazards over the national borders and affect the environment especially the ocean, air and
climate. The health risks in the global economy threaten and disrupt the world’s physical
environment. The countries are making higher regulatory standards at some stage of the
countries development. As stated by O'Brien, Leichenko, (2000), there are growing consumer
concerns about the health in many countries. Emergence of new technology and economic
development contributes to increase in emission. The economy needs to set an emission limit
values for air pollutants. This has proven to be an effective tool to reduce environmental
pollution in global economy. Reducing emission is a long term investment in the global economy
contributes to development goals. Various technologies in the global economy illustrate the
distribution of the environmental pollution. Utilization of pesticides, related chemicals have
increased the rate of environmental pollution on a global scale.
Impact of globalization on global scale

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THE PRICE OF GLOBALIZATION IS ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Globalization is having far reaching effects on the global scale and increasing levels of
pollution in the economy. It has led to areas of concern; it has prominent effects on environment.
Globalization has increased the consumption of resources which has impacted the environment
on a global scale.
Major polluting industries and carbon footprint
According to Smith, Hargroves, Desha, (2010), the industrial sector that is majorly
responsible for carbon emission includes mining, manufacturing and construction. Industries
such as paper, petroleum refineries, chemicals, various metal and mineral products, food
industries are highly responsible for contributing green house gases emission. These industries
utilize the combustion of the fossil fuels which are vital and essential elements for the
manufacturing process of these industries the conversion of limestone in the cement industry can
be taken as an example for emersion of carbon emission in the industry. According to
EarthscanToff and Bhagwati, (2004), the transport industry is also considers to be the industry
responsible for carbon emission, according to the research the transport industry emits 72% of
the sector’s carbon dioxide emission. Other electronic sector industry, are some of the main
sources of carbon dioxide gas emission and other greenhouse gasses, it uses energy for heating,
cooling, refrigeration, these products are some of the major contributors of the carbon dioxide
gases emission and greenhouse gasses. Other sources include solid waste disposal, fossil fuel
fires, handling and incineration. The agriculture sector is also responsible for carbon gas
emission, for example, clearing of forest, has resulted in decreased number of trees which is the
reason why there are no reduction of carbon gas. The animal agriculture also releases carbon
dioxide as well as other green house gasses (Brimblecombe, 2005).

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THE PRICE OF GLOBALIZATION IS ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Globalization with respect to environmental degradation
One of the main indicators of progress in the age of globalization is the increase in Gross
Domestic Product (GDP). However, with the increase in GDP, environmental degradation also
witnesses a steady increase. Other indicators of progress such as the Index of Sustainable
Economic Welfare (ISEW) and Genuine Progress Index (GPI) that measure the environmental
progress however have seen a sharp decline as opposed to the growth in GDP.
Figure 1. Comparison of GDP, GPI and ISEW growth rate
(Source: https://genuineprogress.wordpress.com/development-of-the-finnish-gpi/)
As the above graph indicates, over the last 50 or more, the GDP saw a steady increase
globally as economies flourished owing to the expanded opportunities although the GPI and
ISEW sharply declined. The GPI indicates the economic development of a particular country and
includes the cost of negative economic effects like ozone depletion cost (Genuineprogress,

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THE PRICE OF GLOBALIZATION IS ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
2019). By adding the net positive and negative effects of economic growth, GPI examines if the
growth has proved advantageous to the people or not. ISEW was designed to measure a nation’s
progress more clearly than the GDP including the environmental degradation cost and
depreciation of natural capital amongst other things. Hence, it is clear that the decline in these
two indicators confirm the impact of globalization on environment.
One of the major reasons for globalization contributing to environmental degradation at
such a high rate is the role played by the multinational corporations. As Gallagher (2009) points
out, multinational corporations move their business into other countries and this requires
transportation mostly through trucking, shipping and aviation. When transport at such a huge
scale takes place, it is bound to strain the environment that includes water, air and land. Brien
and Leichenko (2000) also highlighted the influence of economic globalization on climate
change. According to the authors, climate change has been one of the most concerning factors
for scientists and governments alike. Globalization brought about “an increase in anthropogenic
greenhouse gas emissions” causing massive change in climate. As globalization spread, the
worldwide consumption of non-renewable and polluting resources also increased.

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THE PRICE OF GLOBALIZATION IS ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Figure 2. Consumption of coal worldwide up to 2010
(Source: https://ourfiniteworld.com/2013/02/22/twelve-reasons-why-globalization-is-a-huge-
problem/)
In the graph above, it could be seen that the coal consumption worldwide grew
exponentially over the last few decades with European Union and the United States being the
highest
consumers.

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THE PRICE OF GLOBALIZATION IS ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Figure 3. Fossil Fuel Carbon Dioxide Emissions worldwide until 2010 as opposed to what was
expected
(Source: https://ourfiniteworld.com/2013/02/22/twelve-reasons-why-globalization-is-a-huge-
problem/)
This figure above shows the global carbon emission in the last few decades. When
noticed carefully, the sharp and sudden incline has been within the year between 2007 and 2010.
After the signing of the Kyoto Protocol in the year 1997, it was expected that the global
fossil fuel carbon emission would decrease but as the figure shows, the opposite happened.
Conclusion
Therefore, it could be concluded that the environment had to pay a heavy price for
globalization. In other words, the main argument could be reiterated that the price of
globalization is environmental pollution. Globalization has not only caused environmental
degradation directly but indirectly as well. In this essay, the positive effects of globalization have
been outlined as well to provide a better contrasting picture when it comes to environmental
effects.

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THE PRICE OF GLOBALIZATION IS ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
References:
Brimblecombe, P., 2005. The globalization of local air pollution. Globalizations, 2(3), pp.429-
441.
Gallagher, K.P., 2009. Economic globalization and the environment. Annual Review of
Environment and Resources, 34, pp.279-304.
Genuineprogress. (2019). The Finnish GPI. [online] Available at:
https://genuineprogress.wordpress.com/development-of-the-finnish-gpi/ [Accessed 11 Apr.
2019].
Newell, P. (2012), Globalization and the Environment : Capitalism, Ecology and Power, Oxford:
Polity Press
O'Brien K. L., Leichenko, R. M. (2000), Double exposure: assessing the impacts of climate
change within the context of economic globalization, Global Environmental Change, 10: 3, 221-
232Smith, M. H. Hargroves, K., Desha, C. (2010), Cents and sustainability: securing our
common future by decoupling economic growth from environmental pressures, London:
EarthscanToff, N. and Bhagwati, J. (2004), In Defense of Globalization : With a New Afterword,
Oxford University Press USA -OSO, New York
Oecd.org (2019). Globalisation’s Direct and Indirect Effects on the Environment. [online]
Oecd.org. Available at: https://www.oecd.org/greengrowth/greening-transport/41380703.pdf
[Accessed 11 Apr. 2019].

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THE PRICE OF GLOBALIZATION IS ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Watts, J. (2019). We have 12 years to limit climate change catastrophe, warns UN. [online] the
Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/08/global-warming-
must-not-exceed-15c-warns-landmark-un-report [Accessed 11 Apr. 2019].