US Position on International Environmental Concerns

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Introduction

Current changes in weather patterns all over the world have led countries to reconsider their stand and commitment towards sustaining the environment (Brown 2002, p 1-15). Corporate bodies, governments and individuals are all responsible for taking care of the environment but it is now clear that water bodies either surface or underground, soil, air, vegetation, and animals have all become casualties because of the various human activities taking place in the world (Fitzmaurice 2009, 144).

However, many corporate bodies have continuously been blamed for using unorthodox operation techniques that have led to the detriment of the environment. The United States of America being of one of the most powerful countries in the world is attempting to lead from the front by discouraging pollution and abuse of the environment by employing environment management techniques that will take care of the environment and reduce destruction (Friedman 2003, 44-80).

The United States of America has not been left behind as far as taking care of the environment is concerned in fact, its stand on the environment is guided by equal participation of other countries, local and global environmental laws and policies, treaties, conventions, statutes, regulations that arise from bodies.

The United Nations through the United Nation’s environmental program, are some of the treaties laws and conventions that America is party to in order to enact strict environmental regulations that will ensure nuclear safety, marine environment safety, atmosphere safety, freshwater resources and dumping of hazardous wastes (Clemens 2004, 44). It is this above mechanisms governing America’s participation in local and global activities that determine how the American government will handle and remedy pollution and enhance resource conservation and management.

America is known for its support of international legislations and policies that are aimed at conserving natural resources such as forests, mineral deposits, flora and fauna (Natural Resources Defense Council 2005). Including areas of archeological value and consequently enforcing guidelines and limitation that will enhance the conservation, disturbance and the use of these resources. American laws pertaining to environmental issues the United States has resulted in Congress passing numerous environmental regulation laws such as the ocean dumping act, oil pollution act, safe drinking water act, toxic substance control act and other similar legislations. This is evidence of America’s commitment to its local and international regulations that aim at environmental conservation (Natural Resources Defense Council 2005).

Environmental policies and international laws of American government and European union

America is a signatory to numerous international environmental agreements that aim to reduce the level of pollution and environmental destruction (Gifford 2006, 88). America is a signatory to the 1986 convention on early notification of a nuclear accident which followed the Chernobyl nuclear plant accident. The convention develops a basis by which involved parties can be notified when an accident that has a potential for international trans-boundary release occurs that could significantly endanger radiological safety of neighboring and other states (Olson 1999, 40).

Many countries are now participating in nuclear projects with the aim of energy creation and furthering their military dominance. The environment risks being destroyed if leaks and unorthodox disposal techniques are used by governments and corporations handling radioactive materials. The United Nation’s, the American government and European union have been part of making policies and international laws that will ensure that environmental safety will not be compromised by nuclear operations.

Nick Nuttall, who works in the United Nations Environmental Programme, a nongovernmental agency and also the spokesman, he recently claimed that Somalia had been a victim of hazardous waste dumping since the early 1990’s which, affected the immediate environment and the marine life which included fish which were the source of livelihood for these communities. The spokesman further claimed that European countries found it cheap to dump Hazardous wastes in Somalia costing them up to $ 3 instead of the usual $ 1000 a ton (Abdullahi, 2009). America has gone ahead to condemn this act stating the actions of the European countries such as Switzerland and Italy as highly inhuman and unorthodox and are in breach of international laws and statutes.

It demanded that inquiries be carried to get to the bottom of this matter and prevent any future recurrences. Furthermore, America’s legal framework consisting of the Toxic Substances Control statute and the Nuclear Waste Policy act were formulated in such a way that it prohibits American companies from performing such activities without following the international standards that govern the dumping of hazardous radioactive wastes either in America or also in other countries hence companies that don’t comply to this and harm lives of innocent people may face fines and bans. (Sullivan 2010).

Global warming has become a big phenomenon in the world because many individuals believe it is responsible for the rapid environmental changes which have made weather patterns become more unpredictable (Goldstein 2009, 28). Global warming is primarily caused by carbon dioxide accumulating in the atmosphere and therefore a thickened blanket is trapping sun rays and consequently causing earth temperatures to rise up. The corporate manufacturing companies of the developed world are mostly to blame for this including automobiles which are among the biggest contributors in the world of carbon dioxide. It is believed that the increases in temperatures are most likely responsible for wildfires in areas like the state of California (Sullivan 2010).

Furthermore, global warming is responsible for the ice melting in the North and South Pole that cause raises in the overall sea levels and therefore endangering the lives of people and animals by causing ecological imbalances (Goldstein 2009, 57-83). The international community has accepted that carbon dioxide emissions are too high among developed nations with North America being the largest producer of carbon dioxide emissions, for example America’s carbon dioxide emissions from automobiles are twice above that of Europe and Japan combined according to Quick Darren (2010), an expert in the automobile industry.

As reported by a journalist, Tankersley Jim, (2009), president Barrack Obama was planning to put in place a cap trade system for reducing excessive carbon emissions to below 13% by the year 2020 and a further 83% reduction below 2006 levels by the year 2050.The emission reduction plan will roll out comprehensive guidelines that will enable authorities set emission limits on manufacturing facilities and automobiles. This is because president Obama believes that elevated carbon dioxide and green house emissions pose a danger to the whole world and also to the American public health and welfare (Eilperin 2009).

The president’s move will definitely put a cap on the level of carbon emission within American industries even if the congress fails to enact climate legislations a move which the environment protection agency supports. This is because the whole world is moving towards reducing pollution and environmental destruction by employing sustainable methods of doing business and furthermore international agreements, treaties, conventions between nations and the United Nations bodies such as UNEP (United Nation Environmental Programme) and EPA (Environment Protection Agencies).

International environmental conventions and The Environment Protection Agency

International relation between countries and other countries are governed by international treaties and conventions. (Goldstein 2009) When a corporation from one country violates this treaties and conventions these multinational corporations must be subjected to the laws of the aggrieved country subject to the existing international framework.

The recent oil leak in the gulf that occurred when BP (British Petroleum) was involved in a mining accident resulted in an oil spill that that covered around 6500 km² and resulted to environmental degradation, death of marine life together with ecological imbalances, was the worst of its kind (Mccoy et al. 2010). This resulted in a breach of the international environmental conventions that govern mining and the marine environment which are put in place to protect the marine environment and ensure that the marine ecological environment is maintained at equilibrium (Mccoy et al. 2010).

In addition, The United States of America is a signatory to international laws such as Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region, Conventions within the UNEP Regional Seas Programme, and International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage.

These conventions also propose that the marine environment should be protected and any global companies or governments that contribute to its detriment must be held responsible for their deeds (Markandya 2002, 70). The American government and citizens took part in cleaning up the mess but later the British Petroleum C.E.O was summoned to appear before congress and explain what measures BP had taken to stop the crises and prevent any further occurrences of such nature (Hiles 2010, 98).

The American government later on fined the British Petroleum company heavily just to set an example that every corporation should be responsible for its own actions that would result in pollution of the environment (CorpWatch, 2010). Although the British government was not in agreement with how the issue was handled, the American government insisted that British petroleum was responsible for its deep water mile and it must therefore face the consequences of the oil spill that emanated from their deep water horizon mine that had led tom degradation of the environment, marine and human life along the gulf of Mexico.

The United States being a signatory to numerous international environmental laws that aim to conserve and preserve the environment by reducing the amount of pollution the American government has set up a regulatory body to oversee the process of environment conservation, that is, the EPA (The Environment Protection Agency). (Markandya, 2002) The EPA is a government agency that is responsible for overseeing the implementation of Environmental laws that have been approved by congress.

The EPA plays an important role by enforcing this laws and furthermore imposing fines on national and multinational corporations who break any laws that aim at improving the environment by preserving natural resources and reducing all forms of pollution. The EPA is equipped with the latest technology and staff who use various sampling techniques. The EPA then goes forward to collect samples of air, water, soil, and ensure that the contents of air, water, soil or other resources are within the stipulated regulations.

A good example of the EPA swinging into action is when General Motors was found to have violated quality standards by releasing excessive wastes into the Hudson River (CorpWatch, 2010). It is important to understand that the international legal framework has pushed for reduced environmental pollution and degradation, a move which the American government and congress agrees with and therefore as a result the EPA is present to enforce this laws by ensuring that both local and international environmental quality standards that the American government has ratified are not violated by any corporation or any other body.

The EPA works together with both scientists and policy makers to set safe quality standards that will regulate the amount of dangerous pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury, carbon dioxide, lead, radioactive materials, and release of affluent matter by cruise liners into the seas and also the amount of gaseous pollutants that are released by automobiles in the united states. The Chevrolet Equinox is one good example of a motor vehicle that was released with excellent EPA fuel economy rating. As the world struggles to reach global targets that will curb global warming, green house emissions and reduced pollution the EPA plays a big part in seeing this dream come true (Reynolds 2001, 63; Bullard 2007, 103).

Conclusion

Environmental conservation is a concern for every country, institution and individual. Many of the international bodies such as the United Nations have set the pace to create mutual and common laws/policies that will result in improving the environment and reducing pollution. The position of the United States environmental concerns is clear, the American government is applying considerable efforts towards ensuring that more environmental friendly practices are adopted and further ensure that corporations and individuals use sustainable methods to ensure that the environment is not degraded or abused.

Despite pulling out of the Kyoto Protocol because the American government’s goals and strategic interests were not in harmony with the agreement and besides the agreement seemed not fair to the United States, the American government still believes that the environment should be protected and preserved. Therefore, the United States of America through other agreements of mutual interest that it has ratified and regulatory agencies such as The Environment Protection Agency and law making bodies such as the Congress the American government is making laws and setting quality standards and enforcing them in order to meet overall global targets that aim at improving the environment and encouraging sustainable environment.

Recommendations

Though numerous efforts have been undertaken in a bid to conserve the environment, they have not produced satisfactory results. Unfortunately, countries place their interests first before other issues; conversely, they should set policies that seek to balance out their interests and the environmental issues. For instance, since USA declined to sign the Kyoto protocol, it can now seek to have in place more policies that ensure that environmental concerns are taken care of. In addition, other countries around the world should adhere to the policies set by the United Nations Environmental Programme whereby those that fail face penalties or even sanctions. Besides setting up numerous policies, the policy makers should ensure that the policies are in harmony with each other and hence do not contradict which would result in numerous legal tussles.

References

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Bullard, R., 2007. Growing Smarter: Achieving Livable Communities, Environmental Justice, and Regional Equity. Cambridge: MIT Press.

Clemens, W.C., 2004. Dynamics of international relations conflict and mutual in an era of global interdependence, 2nd edn, Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield publishers Inc.

CorpWatch, 2010. “The Case against General Electric.” Corpwatch. Web.

Eilperin, J., 2009. “Obama administration will formally declare danger of carbon emissions.” Democratic underground. Web.

Fitzmaurice, M., 2009. Contemporary issues in international environmental law. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing.

Friedman, F., 2003. Practical Guide to Environment Management. Washington: Environmental Law Institute.

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Markandya, A., 2002. Enviromental Economics For sustainable growth. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing.

Mccoy, M. et al., 2010. Assessing the Effects of the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill on Human Health. Washington DC: National Academies Press.

Natural Resources Defense Council, (NRDC), 2005. “Global Warming Basics: What it is, how it’s caused, and what needs to be done to stop it.” Web.

Olson, S. S., 1999. International environmental Standards handbook. Orlando FL: Lewis publishers.

Quick. D.,.2010. “U.S. vehicle CO2 emissions still almost double Europe and Japan.” Gizmag.com. Viewed on 11-26-2010. Web.

Reynolds, P., 2001. “Kyoto: Why did the US pull out?” Bbc. Web.

Sullivan, C., 2010. “Report Predicts Hot Future for California National Parks.” Scientific America. Web.

Tankersley, J., 2009. “Obama sets strict rules on carbon emissions: Plan to combat global warming proposes limits to be tightened yearly.” Chicago Tribune. Web.

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