Pollution and Emissions and the Effects of Globalization
Keri-Ann AndradeCC 495-001
18 April 2008
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Introduction
In today’s world, changes are taking place every day. As countries begin to go
through the process of globalization and expansion, changes take place. If these changes
are not monitored properly, disastrous results may occur. Pollution and emissions from
countries around the world can have negative effects on the environment. The future of
the world is in danger because of emissions and pollution and many countries are seeing
this as a problem that needs to be solved. Different countries around the world are trying
to make changes and lower the amount of emissions that is being released into the air,
causing pollution. Kenneth Burke and his concept of the Pentad/Ratio can be useful in
the analysis of globalization and how it affects the given country and the world. This
paper looks at how emissions and pollution is being dealt with, the damage that
globalization has already caused in the environment and what the future will bring to the
world.
Globalization is affecting today’s world in many ways. There has been a lot of
research that has been conducted about the effects of globalization, both positive and
negative. Countries such as the United States, Japan, China and India, just to name a
few, have expanded rapidly without being conscious of the pollution that is occurring.
The atmosphere, due to harmful emissions, has been damaged extensively over the past
decades. Large amounts of greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide have destroyed parts of
the ozone layer. These harmful gases rise into the air that we breathe and leave behind
deadly toxins. Industry expansion can be beneficial to the country’s economy. On the
same note, cars, airplanes, and other means of transportation let off emissions during
every use.
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A more in-depth focus on countries such as the United States, Japan, China,
newly developed India, and other developing nations has been taken by researchers.
These countries are all in different stages of globalization, but the same issue keeps
occurring. Emissions and pollution caused by industry expansion and a growing need for
cars are concerns that are looked upon when it may be too late. These developed
countries are experiencing an economic growth that reads dollars signs to its
governments. Regulating the emissions and pollution during this time is the last thought
on their minds. In the next section, a review of previously published research will be
reviewed. Once this has been completed, an analysis of emissions, pollution and the
effects of globalization will be conducted.
Literature Review
There have been numerous studies done in the past about the effects of pollution.
A study conducted by L. Claudio (2007) looked at the clothing industry and how it
pollutes the environment. Globalization increases the amount of goods offered to the
public. This increase in products causes more waste products by the manufacturers.
“The EPA, under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, considers many textile
manufacturing facilities to be hazardous waste generators” (Claudio, 2007). This means
that more goods equal more pollution. Kwong (2005) used a 2001 study that found that
“although economic growth produced more pollution, the greater wealth and higher
incomes also generated a demand for a cleaner environment.” People tend to care more
about their environment when it is cost-effective to them and they have the means to do
so, as needed.
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The process of globalization is seen as a positive approach towards making life
better for the people of the given country. Molchanov (2005) writes that “globalization is
a contradictory process.” The researcher goes on to say that in Europe, globalization and
protectionism go hand in hand, referred to as “a double movement” (Molchanov, 2005).
Changes are being made, but protectionists are trying to forgo the process altogether and
protect Europe’s current state. Europe has taken steps to limit or address the issue of
emissions, but as of this point in time, it has subsided immensely.
Growth and expansion makes the world strive. As more money pours into the
economy, the more negative effects are being ignored. Lowe (2004) stated that “an
ecologically-illiterate cheer squad of economists, business leaders, politicians and
journalists is actively encouraging further growth in consumption to bring forward the
inevitable crisis.” This crisis that is mentioned is the devastation of the earth’s natural
resources and the environment. Harmful GHG and CO2 emissions are eating away at the
ozone layer and polluting the atmosphere. Those individuals who are in power look
towards making money, rather than watching out for the well-being of the planet and its
people. “The Australian State of the Environment Report said that urban air quality was
improving but all other serious environmental problems in that country [Australia] was
worsening” (Lowe, 2004). This brings up the idea that the world’s population is slowly,
but surely, killing themselves. These are just a few ways of looking at how globalization
affects the country and the environment all at once.
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Asia’s Pollution
Asia’s environment and economy has undergone enormous changes in the past
twenty years. These changes have affected everyone and everything on the Asian
continent. In a study conducted by M.T. Rock and D.P. Angel (2007), they gathered
information about air pollution in Asia versus other countries and the world. The results
were that Asia’s air pollution was at 238 mg/m3 (milligram per cubic meter), compared
to the world’s air pollution coming in at 126 mg/m3 in 2002. Asia is just one continent,
among many, that has seen a rapid economic growth recently. This change has brought
about new opportunities for companies and people to become wealthier. The effects that
came out of this rapid change were not looked at initially. Today, more attention is being
given to the polluted environment and what globalization has done to burden the country.
The problem of environmental pollution began when expanding industry used the motto
“grow first, clean up later” (Rock, Angel 2007). In Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan,
“policy integration helped internalize environmental considerations within the economic
decision making processes” (Rock, Angel 2007). Although these countries saw many
changes in the economy, pollution was not a concern. Steps are being taken to address
concerns and adapt better ways of supplying people with products that fit their needs and
helping the environment at the same time.
Emissions and pollution are caused by companies’ waste products, large increases
in automobile usage and other related factors. Companies are in the business of making
money. Waste products are one of the downfalls to producing products for consumption.
The tendency to blame companies for most of the pollution is absurd because “industry
could not be trusted not to put the bottom line first” (Wall, 2000). It is the people’s fault
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for putting trust in something that is only in business to make money in the growing
economy. As countries see these changes occurring, it is often difficult to see the direct
effects in real time. Japan, for example, wants to cut their emissions of carbon dioxide
which has consistently been blamed for global warming. Along with Japanese people
harming the environment unintentionally, a lot of Japan’s pollution has come from China.
“Mount Zao is only one example of pollution hitting Japan from China, where factory
emissions are causing international concern as its economy soars ahead” (James).
A study by Grumbine (2007) found that “Japan and South Korea are already
affected by Chinese-generated pollutants, and SO2 and NOx are showing up on the West
Coast of North America. Research from southern California suggests that on some days
25% of airborne particulates originate from China, with as yet unknown consequences”
(Grumbine, 2007). This fact is unnerving because China is on its way towards surpassing
the United States’ economy. Japan and other countries around the world are being
affected by the pollution given off by the Chinese people. Japan’s government is trying
to help drivers cut down on emissions and pollution by offering “reduced parking charges
small cars” (Nieuwenhuis and Zapata, 2006). This could make Japanese people want to
drive smaller, lower emissions vehicles in the coming years.
The Effects of Pollution on Developed and Developing Countries
Looking at the world and how it has been affected by globalization brings mixed
results. Developing nations are less likely to have the financial means to regulate and
clean up pollution. On the other side of the issue, more developed countries such as
China are more financially inept to look into effective ways of managing emissions and
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pollution given off into the environment. Japan Probe, a website about Japanese news
had a story that stated “developing nations are eager to hear first about what
industrialized countries will do to cut their emissions of carbon dioxide and other
“greenhouse” gases blamed for global warming, and how much money they will spend to
help poor nations adapt to climate change.” Money is an issue for many of the countries
going through the process of globalization. The governments in these countries are
expanding and money is being put into industry expansion. The nation is unaware of the
negative effects of an expansion that are happening around the country and the world.
Emissions and pollution is being released into the atmosphere every second of everyday.
In a developing country, such as India, the projected emissions for the next few
decades are astounding. Shukla, Garg, Kapshe and Nairs claim in their study that “CO2
equivalent GHG emissions [will] grow about 2.6 times during 2000-2030.” This fact is
devastating because the environment is at a point where it can hardly take anymore
damage. India’s growing need for automobiles is causing this sharp rise and it will not
level out anytime soon. Alternate scenarios are being explored to limit the amount of
damage that India’s people could cause due to emissions and pollution into the
environment. There are many factors that lead to this negative effect of globalization,
such as an increased livestock need. India is just one example of many countries
experiencing an economic boom with less than appealing results.
Many people believe that developing countries have fewer environmental laws
that protect the environment. A study by Pulver (2007) reveals that many of these
countries have fewer environmental polluters. The researcher goes on to talk about how
a developing country such as Africa has little information about how it is helping in the
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greening process. More developed countries such as China and Latin America have firms
that release this information to the public and it is more readily available for viewing.
The study itself looks at how developing countries are regulating the emissions and
pollutions. The following section looks at how pollution and emissions is being regulated
by both governments and the people of developed and developing countries.
Regulating Pollution and Emissions
Lesser developed countries tend to have regulations that require little attention. A
study by M.T. Rock and D.P. Angel (2007) found that “there is also some evidence that
countries with weak environmental regulations may emerge as havens for pollution-
intensive industries, particularly when new foreign investment involve older, “dirty”
technologies.” Many poorer countries do not have programs in effect that properly
regulate the emissions and pollutions that industry and vehicles are releasing into the
environment. In a study conducted by Kwong (2005), it stated that “globalization will
result in a “race to the bottom” as polluting companies relocate to countries with lax
environmental standards.” Companies are by-passing strict regulations in developed
countries. To avoid fines and putting out more money to fix their emissions and the
amount of pollution being released, these industries are moving abroad in many cases.
This is a problem that needs to be addressed more closely. These multi-national
companies should be environmentally conscious about the world and what they are doing
for the future generations. Other countries that have means to regulate pollution and
emissions are trying to do so.
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Attractive business conditions draw companies into participating in foreign
investments. A study by Jorgenson, Dick and Mahutga (2007) found that “in an
additional effort to attract outside investment, less developed countries tend to have lower
domestic environmental regulations than developed countries.” This is a key factor for
companies looking to make higher profits and cut down on the costs of protecting the
environment. Due to these mentioned ideas, the environment is being taken advantage
of. There needs to be global policies that apply to all countries across the globe which
regulate how much emissions and pollution can be released. The issue of pollution seems
to be the last thing on the minds of industry leaders looking to grow their business. Less
developed countries do not have the capabilities or the financial means to regulate on
their own. Other, more developed countries need to assist less fortunate nations in the
global process of lowering emissions and pollution.
Regulations in the United States are being put on companies and incentives are
being given to industry and employees to help control the emissions. One program that
does this is the Environment Protection Agency’s (EPA) Climate Leaders Program. On
the EPA website, it states that “Climate Leaders is an EPA industry-government
partnership that works with companies to develop comprehensive climate change
strategies.” This program looks at the amount of gases being given off by companies and
what can be done to reduce them. A similar program was created by DOE. Climate
Vision is the Bush administration’s policy that “encourages industry to take voluntary
actions using available, cost-effective technologies and best practices to reduce
greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions intensity” (DOE). The White House has talked about
“new bilateral agreements [that] have been established with countries representing over
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70 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions” (White House). The President is
assisting other, less fortunate countries in the process of controlling emissions and
pollution and to help educate its people about the harmful effects.
The European Union is beginning to take action and create programs that better
regulate pollution and emissions. Numerous multi-national companies, such as Motorola,
have complied with the EU’s environmental directives. A study conducted by M.T. Rock
and D.P. Angel (2007), stated that “Motorola maintains a set of core global firm-based
environmental standards.” Companies are coming under the watchful eyes of
governments and environmentally-conscious groups. Along with industry, car
manufacturers are being aided. The European Union (EU) and the European
Commission (EC) “negotiated a voluntary agreement with Europe’s vehicle producers…
to reduce CO2 emissions from new cars” (Nieuwenhuis and Zapata, 2006). Playing the
game of catch-up seems to be the issue of industries who have gone through the process
of globalization. Governments are trying to aid in this costly process and deliver
incentives to those industries that choose to take precautions to save the world’s
atmosphere and environment from further damage.
People need to regulate emissions and pollution by themselves. Governments can
give the public the tools to do so, but the need for change needs to come from the latter.
A study by G. Wall (2000) made the point that, “governments can't decree a change in
lifestyle--that's got to come from the people themselves. And one of the great benefits, I
think, of this conference is creating public awareness of the need to moderate our
lifestyles, and use less energy and produce less waste.” Humans create waste and pollute
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the environment. If developed and developing countries are aware of the urgency of
change, then the environment may be able to stay as it is, without further damage.
Automobiles Impact on the Environment
Along with industry, automobiles have caused massive amounts of the world’s
emissions and pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency claims that
“technological advances in vehicle and engine design, together with cleaner, higher-
quality fuels, have reduced emissions so much that EPA expects progress to continue,
even as people drive more miles and use more power equipment every year.” This may
be the case in the United States and other countries that have gone through the process of
globalization, but more cars on the roads are causing mixed results. In India, for
example, the amount of cars being driven on the roads is increasing everyday. A 2007
study concluded that “it is well known that the principal human cause of carbon dioxide
emissions is the burning of fossil fuels, which takes place in a variety of human
activities” (Jorgenson, Dick and Mahutga). Cars are a main contributing factor to
pollution across the globe.
Automobile manufacturers are realizing that there is a growing need for cars that
have lower emissions in more developed nations. A study by Nieuwenhuis and Zapata
(2006) writes that “cars are the consumer products with the greatest environmental
impact.” A change must be made to satisfy people’s needs for transportation and to
regulate how much emissions go into the environment. Hybrid and bio-diesel vehicles
are being targeted to environmentally conscious drivers who are seeking a way to lessen
the emissions. Although these cars seem to help the problem, there needs to be a larger
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change if the world wants to stop the process that is taking place. More cars on the roads
means more emissions. Nieuwenhuis and Zapata (2006) stated that “China alone has the
potential to double the environmental impact from human activity.” This means that
China is expanding so rapidly that the amount of pollution from vehicles, for example, is
permanently harming the environment. Countries such as China and India are two places
of concern for environmentalists because of the high increase in automobile usage.
Lower emission vehicles only lessen the blow to the environment, but they do not
eliminate emissions altogether. The problem that is addressed in this paper is that
emissions and pollution due to globalization is destroying the world, rather than creating
a better place for everyone to live. Next, an analysis will be conducted using Kenneth
Burke’s Pentad/Ratio. It will look at the issue at hand, pollution, and how it affects the
world due to globalization.
Method of Analysis
Globalization “refers to the increasing economic integration and interdependence
of countries. Economic globalization in this century has proceeded along two main lines:
trade liberalization (the increased circulation of goods) and financial liberalization (the
expanded circulation of capital)” (The Halifax Initiative). Globalization changes the
economy of the people such that an influx of goods and services is more readily
available.
Kenneth Burke and his theory of the Pentad/Ratio looks at identification. The
issue must first be identified. Here, it is emissions and pollution caused by globalization
in the world. Once the issue is defined, the problem can be identified with and this
causes people to realize that changes need to be made. Emissions is harming the
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environment and destroying natural resources that are needed for everyday survival.
More developed countries are identifying with the problem and looking for different
ways of lessening the harm being down to the atmosphere. For the developing nations,
pollution is overlooked in many situations. Industry expansion and the growing economy
is the concern of the government and its people. The problem has not been fully defined
and the people cannot identify with it at this point in time.
The idea of form deals with the psychology of the audience. In order to evoke
change, the government and other officials need to have an understanding and inform the
audience of the issue of pollution and emissions. They must also explain how it will be
beneficial to the audience to help resolve the problem. Governments in more developed
countries are designing programs to do this. Programs such as EPA’s Climate Leaders
Program and DOE’s Climate Vision are designed and implemented for industry use to
assist them financially. The public is also given the option of buying hybrid or bio-diesel
vehicles to cut down of CO2 emissions. Globalization has its negative effects, but
change is being made to reduce emissions and pollution caused by this expansion.
Burke’s five terms, which are act, agent, scene, agency and purpose can be useful
in this analysis. The act is looking for a way to cut down on emissions and pollution that
is going into the environment. Harmful GHG and CO2 are taking its toll on an already
badly damaged atmosphere. As of this point in time, there is no fix for what has been
done.
The agent is the world’s population. Governments, environmentally conscious
people and others are looking for a way out of total devastation. Cutting down on driving
and offering programs that help industries lower emissions and pollutions only
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temporarily limits the problem. A more dramatic step by the agents needs to be taken in
order to battle a deadly killer that could potentially cause future generations to cease to
exist.
The scene is the world’s environment. Pollutants are depleting the ozone layer
and it can never be repaired. CO2 and greenhouse gases from cars, waste products and
other related factors harm the air we breathe and destroy natural resources. As countries
begin the process of globalization and rapidly expand, more pollution occurs. The
environment is only capable of sustaining life if its resources are not damaged and
overused. Emissions need to be eliminated or cut back drastically in order to stop what is
happening all around the world every day.
Agency and purpose, according to Kenneth Burke, deal with a reason to make
change and how it will happen. The public needs to be educated about what will happen
if they do not change their lifestyles. The industries also need to make changes, although
this will have to come from money in their own pockets. There is only one world and it
seems that change is coming at a time when it could possibly have no effect. The
purpose of cutting emissions and pollution is to help people breathe better and protect the
ozone layer. Without a protective layer from the sun, earth would be a hot planet that
cannot hold human life.
Kenneth Burke draws up the point that “if action, then drama; if drama, then
conflict, if conflict, then victimage” (Golden, Berquist, Coleman and Sproule). The
action occurs when governments begin to design programs to assist people in the
lowering of emissions and pollution. The drama is that people are seeing the issue and
becoming afraid about what could happen if nothing changes. The conflict is deciding
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how to make these changes and if it will help the future of the world. The world’s
population has become the victims. The environment is heavily damaged and it is
irreversible. There is nothing can be done to stop emissions and pollution because the
world keeps expanding. The only available means of change is lowering the amount of
emissions so that it remains the same or slightly lower than today’s amounts. Looking at
the projected numbers for the coming years, it seems that this is a dream that will likely
not be reached.
Discussion
The toll that globalization has taken on the environment is enormous. Emissions
and pollution continue to harm the environment in irreversible ways. Changes can help
lessen the devastation, but it does not fix the problem fully. Harmful greenhouse gases
(GHG) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are given off by waste products created by industries
and cars. Governmental programs try to address the issue and offer assistance to the
public. The concentration on growing, rather than the pollution that was and is occurring,
has caused what is happening today. The atmosphere is diminishing at this very moment
in time. There is no way to stop what has been taking place.
Companies need to manufacture goods for the public. The consumption of those
goods is what keeps the industry in business. Pollution, from items that are no longer of
use and the waste products of companies, is a problem. The government is only able to
do a certain amount to protect the environment. In the United States, and other countries
around the world, there are programs in place to give money or benefits to people who
recycle or cut down on pollution. The idea of such programs seems to be in good nature,
but they will most likely not solve the problem.
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The Future of the World
The timing for change may be too late. The damage has been done and there is
little that anyone can do about it. The public needs to have means of transportation and
goods to survive in today’s world. Pollution and emissions is not going away. Unless
there is a big change and emissions are regulated to a much lesser amount, the
environment may not survive. Many countries have projected dates for programs that cut
down on emissions, but it will be too late. Future generations are going to see a different
world than what our parents and our generation has grown up in. The pollution is going
to continue to expand as more countries across the globe go through the process of
globalization. Keeping up with current times and the economy is a concern for all
nations. Money is important to these people and the environment is a side note.
As many of the studies that have been used in this paper have stated, pollution is
devastating. No one fully knows what will happen in the coming decades. Governments
are now understanding emissions and pollution and passing it down to the public.
Education is coming at a time when learning about the problem is the only thing that can
be done. This paper looks at what harm has been done, what steps are being taken to
alleviate the strain on the environment, and what the future will hold for these countries.
The information that has been gathered for this research paper all points to the inevitable,
a polluted world where life may not survive.
Conclusion
Globalization can have many negative effects on the country which it changes.
The expansion of industry brings about more pollution into the atmosphere. This is a
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never ending process. More goods and services are positive for the economy because it
gives people choices about what they want to purchase. Countries that have undergone
the process of globalization overlook the pollution that is escaping into the atmosphere.
Growing is the main concern for the country. Often than not, by the time pollution and
emissions is addressed, it is too late. More developed countries, such as the United
States, have the available means to adapt programs to control emissions and pollution.
The EPA’s Climate Leaders Program, and the DOE’s Climate Vision program are just
two examples that directly helps industries change the way they manufacture goods and
how much pollution is given off. Developing countries do not have the means to fully
attend to the pollution problem. The economy is trying to strive. Money is difficult to
come by and emissions are not accurately regulated to the highest standards.
Along with industry pollution, there is a concern for automobile emissions.
Globalization expands the given country’s economy. Due to this change, more people
need transportation around the growing cities. Emissions, in the developing nations are
not a main concern because the government isn’t fully aware of the problem. Pollution is
given off by the vehicles and the atmosphere is taking the largest hit. In more developed
countries, the government is now beginning to understand the issue that emissions and
pollution is bringing up. Greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide are released into the
environment and the effects are not reversible. Automobile manufacturers are seeing this
concern in earth conscious drivers and are adapting appropriately. New hybrid cars and
bio-diesel engines are starting to gain more attention. These vehicles are supposed to
have lower emissions and pollution. In the developing nations, it may be more difficult
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to purchase such vehicles though. Something needs to be done soon, but it might already
be too late.
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