Environmental Degradation

When TNCs set up factories, they use natural resources which depletes them fast. The resources are often found in excess in developing countries. The natural environment is suffering because the developing countries focus on economic growth and not environmental protection. Many developing countries also lack the resources to implement and enforce environmental regulations

Deforestation

Forests in many countries are cut down to make space to build industries, agricultural fields, houses, transport systems etc. Some government ask for trees to be cut down quickly for economic activities that can generate lots of income for the country.

Example, in Brazil, 745289 kilometer square of the Amazon rainforest is cut down between 1970 and 2011. The land is used for cattle pasture.

Small-scale farmers and plantation owners are cutting down Indonesia's forest to plant crops. Forests are also cleared for development projects aimed to let Indonesia experience more economic growth.

THIS IS SERIOUS BECAUSE ENVIRONMENTALIST OR PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT MAY PROTEST AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT AND ASK THEM TO STOP CUTTING DOWN TREES.

EXAMPLE, IN SEATTLE, USA IN 1999, THERE IS A PROTEST AGAINST THE WTO DURING A MEETING. THE ENVIRONMENTALIST EVEN FEAR THAT REDUCED TAX ON PAPER AND WOODEN FURNITURE WILL INCREASE THE DEMAND OF IT. THIS CAUSES MORE FOREST TGO BE CUT DOWN.

SOME OTHER SERIOUS PROBLEM CAUSED BY DEFORESTATION INCLUDES SOIL EROSION, EXTINCTION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS, FLOODING AND HAZE. HAZE IS PRODUCED WHEN FORESTS ARE BURNT. DURING THE DRY PERIOD FROM JUNE TO OCTOBER, HAZE IN THE SOUTHEAST ASIA REGION HAS BEEN A RECURRING FEATURE IN THE PAST DECADES AND CAN CAUSE THE REGION TO SUFFER LOSSES. WHEN COUNTRIES SUFFER LOSSES BECAUSE OF THE HAZE, HOSTILITY IN BETWEEN THE RESPONSIBLE COUNTRY MAY RISE. THIS CAN INCREASE TENSION IN BETWEEN THE PEOPLE AND ONE DAY, THERE MAY BE CONFLICTS.

EXAMPLE, SINGAPORE EXPERIENCED SERIOUS AIR POLLUTION DUE TO HAZE FROM INDONESIA IN 2013. THE HAZE CAN ALSO AFFECT PEOPLE'S HEALTH. THERE ARE MORE CASES OF PATIENTS WITH BREATHING PROBLEMS OR ASTHMA BECAUSE OF THE HAZE. BUSINESSES AND SHOPS ARE ALSO TEMPORARILY CLOSED DOWN BECAUSE OF THIS. THE SINGAPORE FLYER IS ALSO CLOSED TEMPORARILY BECAUSE OF THE HAZE. THIS CAUSE SINGAPORE TO SUFFER ECONOMIC LOSSES.

 

Global warming

Globalisation has caused global warming. Due to globalization, there are more planes and ships used to transport goods from one place to another. These vehicles emit lots of greenhouse gas and this cause enhanced greenhouse effect which also cause global warming. Factories also emit lots of greenhouse gas and this also contribute to global warming.

THIS IS SERIOUS BECAUSE WITH GLOBAL WARMING, WILDLIFES WILL GO EXTINCT. SOME COUNTRIES MAKE USE OF WILDLIFE TO ENCOURAGE TOURISM AND WHEN THE WILDLIFES DIE, THE COUNTRY WILL LOSE TOURIST INCOME. IN FACT, WITH GLOBAL WARMING, CROP PRODUCTION WILL DECREASE. HENCE, FOOD MAY BECOME A SCARCE RESOURCE AND COUNTRIES MAY FIGHT OVER FOOD. 

Environmental Management

Due to globalization, more countries are aware that sustainable development is essential for further economic growth. When the environment s well-preserved, the future generations can continue to use the preserved environment to generate income and enjoy economic growth.
The world energy is expected to increase by 45% between 2006 and 2030. Most of the increase is from rapid developing countries like China and India. Hence, it is important to have a sustained supply of power. One way is through the conservation of energy. Another way is to encourage generating energy from alternative sources of energy. However, these are not long-term solutions.