8.2. Ways in Which Environment Affects Globalization

♤ Natural resource scarcity or/and abundance are drivers of globalization, as they incite supply and demand forces in global markets.

♤ The need for environmental amelioration can extract costs from economy and siphon resources away from development goals.

♤ Environmental stress can trigger alternative technological paths, e.g., dematerialization, alternative energy, etc., which may not have otherwise emerged.

♤ Environmental standards influence patterns of trade and investment nationally and internationally.

The current debate on globalization has become de-linked from its environmental roots and contexts. These links between environment and globalization need to be re-examined and recognized. To ignore these links is to misunderstand the full extent and nature of globalization and to miss out on critical opportunities to address some of the most pressing environmental challenges faced by humanity.