Environment and Natural Resources| Class 12 Political Science Notes

Class 12 Political Science Notes Chapter 6 Environment and Natural Resources deals with the growing importance of environmental and resource issues in global politics. It analyzes some of the important environmental movements against the backdrop of the rising profile of environmentalism from the 1960s onwards. The chapter also introduces students to the concept of common property resources and the rights of indigenous people. It mentions the global commons and their relevance in contemporary world politics.

In this article, we will look into the topic of Environment and Natural Resources in detail. It is an important topic in Political Science Class 12. Students can go through this article to get comprehensive notes on Class 12 Political Science Chapter 6 Environment and Natural Resources.

World politics encompasses various aspects of global affairs, including wars, treaties, state power, government relationships, and intergovernmental organizations. However, contemporary issues such as agricultural land loss, overgrazing, water depletion, and pollution are also part of world politics. These issues have political consequences, as no single government can fully address them.

The environment and natural resources are deeply political issues, as they raise the issue of who causes environmental degradation, pays the price, and is responsible for corrective action. The growing focus on environmental issues within global politics was consolidated at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The Rio Summit produced conventions dealing with climate change, biodiversity, and forestry, and recommended a list of development practices called ‘Agenda 21’. However, there were considerable differences and difficulties, as some critics pointed out that Agenda 21 was biased in favor of economic growth rather than ensuring ecological conservation.

The Rio Summit produced a consensus on combining economic growth with ecological responsibility, known as ‘sustainable development’. However, the exact implementation of this approach remains a contentious issue in the global politics of environment.

Commons are resources shared by a community, such as a common room, community center, park, or river. Global commons, such as the earth’s atmosphere, Antarctica, ocean floor, and outer space, require common governance by the international community. Cooperation over these commons is challenging, with agreements like the 1959 Antarctic Treaty, 1987 Montreal Protocol, and 1991 Antarctic Environmental Protocol.

The discovery of the ozone hole in the mid-1980s highlighted the opportunity and dangers of tackling global environmental problems. The management of outer space is influenced by North-South inequalities, and technology and industrial development are crucial issues in managing these commons. The benefits of exploitative activities in outer space are not equally distributed for present or future generations.

The Antarctic continental region, covering over 14 million square kilometers, is home to 26% of the world’s wilderness area, 90% of terrestrial ice, and 70% of planetary fresh water. It has a highly productive marine ecosystem, including plants, marine mammals, fish, birds, and krill. The region plays a crucial role in maintaining climatic equilibrium and provides valuable information about greenhouse gas concentrations and atmospheric temperatures. Despite differing claims to sovereignty, the Antarctic and Arctic polar regions have adopted innovative environmental protection rules, limiting activities to scientific research, fishing, and tourism.

The approach to the environment varies between developed and developing countries. The North wants everyone to be equally responsible for ecological conservation, while the South believes that developed countries must take more responsibility for undoing the damage caused by industrial development. This principle, accepted in the Rio Declaration, emphasizes the importance of cooperation in global partnerships to conserve, protect, and restore the Earth’s ecosystem.

The 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) also provides for equitable protection of the climate system. The Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement, targets industrialized countries to cut their greenhouse gas emissions, with certain gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and hydrofluoro carbons being considered partly responsible for global warming.

Common property refers to the rights and duties of a group regarding the nature, use, and maintenance of a resource. Village communities in India have defined these rights and responsibilities. However, factors like privatization, agricultural intensification, population growth, and ecosystem degradation have led to a decline in common property’s size, quality, and availability to the poor globally. In South India, sacred groves have traditionally been managed by village communities.

India’s Role in Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions:

• India signed and ratified the 1997 Kyoto Protocol in 2002, exempting India, China, and other developing countries from the Protocol’s requirements.
• India believes developed countries, with accumulated emissions over time, have the major responsibility of curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
• India’s negotiating position relies on principles of historical responsibility, as enshrined in UNFCCC.
• India is wary of UNFCCC discussions about binding commitments on rapidly industrializing countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
• India’s per capita carbon emissions are predicted to rise from 0.9 tonnes in 2000 to 1.6 tonnes in 2030.
• The Indian government is participating in global efforts through programs like the National Auto-fuel Policy, Energy Conservation Act, and Electricity Act.
• India is also launching a National Mission on Biodiesel and ratifying the Paris Climate Agreement.
• India believes developed countries need to provide developing countries with financial resources and clean technologies to meet their UNFCCC commitments.
• India also supports the adoption of a common position on major global environmental issues among SAARC countries.

Environmental degradation has been a global challenge, with significant responses coming from groups of environmentally conscious volunteers working at both international and local levels. These movements are among the most vibrant, diverse, and powerful social movements today, generating new forms of political action and raising new ideas and long-term visions of what we should do and not do in our individual and collective lives.

Examples include forest movements in the South, such as Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Malaysia, Indonesia, continental Africa, and India, and the minerals industry, which is re-opening economies to multinational corporations. Opposition to the Western Mining Corporation (WMC) in the Philippines is based on antinuclear sentiments and advocacy for indigenous peoples’ rights. Additionally, anti-dam movements are increasingly pro-river movements for sustainable and equitable management of river systems and valleys. India has had some of the leading anti-dam, pro-river movements, with the most important shared idea being non-violence.

Resource geopolitics is the study of who gets what, when, where, and how resources are used. It has been a key factor in global European power expansion and interstate rivalry. Western geopolitical thinking has been dominated by the relationship of trade, war, and power, with overseas resources and maritime navigation being key priorities. During the First and Second World Wars, European powers prioritized naval timber supply.

During the Cold War, industrialized countries used methods like military deployment, stockpiling, and supporting multinational companies to ensure a steady flow of resources. However, after the Cold War and the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the security of supply continues to concern government and business decisions. Oil remains the most important resource in global strategy, with the Gulf region accounting for 30% of global oil production but having 64% of the planet’s known reserves. Water is another crucial resource relevant to global politics, with disputes over shared water resources leading to conflicts in the 21st century.

Indigenous people are descendants of people who inhabited a country’s present territory when people of different cultures or ethnic origin arrived and overcame them. They now live more in conformity with their social, economic, and cultural customs and traditions than the institutions of the country. In world politics, approximately 30 crore indigenous peoples, including India, occupy areas in Central and South America, Africa, India (where they are known as Tribals), and Southeast Asia. Indigenous voices call for the admission of indigenous people to the world community as equals.

The loss of land and an economic resource base is the most obvious threat to the survival of indigenous people. Political autonomy cannot be enjoyed without its attachment to the means of physical survival. In India, the term “indigenous people” is usually applied to the Scheduled Tribes, who constitute nearly 8% of the population. They depend on the cultivation of land for their subsistence, and have paid a huge cost for development since independence.

Issues related to the rights of indigenous communities have been neglected in domestic and international politics for a long time. In the 1970s, growing international contacts among indigenous leaders from around the world aroused a sense of common concern and shared experiences. The World Council of Indigenous Peoples was formed in 1975 and became the first of 11 indigenous NGOs to receive consultative status in the UN.

In conclusion, the environment and natural resources are essential for the survival of all living beings. The environment provides us with air, water, food, shelter, and other resources that we need to live. Natural resources are the materials that we use to make everything from clothes to cars to computers. However, human activity is putting a strain on the environment and natural resources. We are polluting the air and water, depleting forests, and overfishing the oceans. This is causing climate change, biodiversity loss, and other environmental problems.

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What is the focus of Chapter 6 of Class 12 Political Science?

The chapter explores the interplay between environment, natural resources, and politics.

What are some key environmental challenges discussed in the chapter?

Key challenges include climate change, deforestation, pollution, water scarcity, and loss of biodiversity.

How do political factors influence environmental policies?

Political factors such as governance structures, economic interests, and international agreements shape environmental policies and decision-making.

What role do international agreements play in environmental governance?

International agreements like the Paris Agreement provide frameworks for global cooperation and action on environmental issues.

How do environmental issues intersect with other areas of politics?

Environmental issues intersect with economic, social, and security concerns, influencing policy agendas and international relations.

What are the implications of environmental degradation for political stability?

Environmental degradation can increase social inequalities, trigger conflicts over resources, and destabilize governments, posing challenges to political stability.

How do communities and civil society organizations influence environmental politics?

Communities and civil society organizations play key roles in advocating for environmental protection, holding governments accountable, and mobilizing public action.