Environmental Diplomacy World Environment Comparison of Seven States

 World Environment seven countries: Comparison of environmental diplomacy
Zhang Haibin
Summary: World Environment seven countries showed different styles of environmental diplomacy. In international environmental affairs, status and role of seven different countries, different development path, different emphases, intrinsic motivation is different. Germany is the leader, who drag the United States, China is an active partner, but most of the time is a passive response. there are differences, there are common, economic considerations environmental diplomacy is the cornerstone of the seven countries, cooperation is Seven keynote country's environmental diplomacy, environmental diplomacy, the United Nations is the seven countries an important factor. Zhibi confidant comparison, China in the 21st century can make the greatest contribution to the world is to achieve sustainable development. top priority, China needs to improve environmental diplomacy position, a clear idea of environmental diplomacy, environmental diplomacy in the system and the implementation of the work.
preamble
evolved into a major environmental problem of international relations, the most obvious sign is the rise of environmental diplomacy. so-called environmental diplomacy, means the International between actors (mainly countries) the use of negotiations, negotiations and other diplomatic means to deal with and adjust the field of environment all the activities of international relations. Its main contents include: environmental information, personnel, technology and finance cross-border cooperation; international negotiations on environmental legislation; International the performance of environmental treaties; dealing with international environmental disputes and conflicts. environmental diplomacy another layer of meaning is the use of environmental protection to achieve specific political purposes or other strategic intent. The essence of environmental diplomacy, countries through diplomatic means to maximize the country mm interests in the world of limited resources and environmental capacity to obtain the largest possible share.
modern environmental diplomacy, began in the 1972 United Nations Conference on Human Environment, the rapid development in 1992 after the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, today is unprecedented active, has been completed from the edge to the center of international relations in the process of transfer, a form of one of the mainstream of international diplomacy. to since 2007, for example, climate change has become a major international conferences in many key issues, such as the Davos World Economic Forum , G8 +5 dialogue meeting, the UN Security Council Thematic Debate on Climate Change, the United Nations High-Level Meeting on Climate Change, APEC informal leadership meeting, the meeting of major economies to climate change, East Asia summit dialogue, a variety of important bilateral meetings ( such as France, Britain, Japan, China and Australia summit), United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, the United Nations climate change meeting in Bangkok and most recently, of climaxes with the environmental diplomacy, international relations, regional or global environmental impact. the world's largest state-owned China recognized the environment, the United States, Brazil, Japan, India, Russia, Germany and other seven countries. As the global environmental situation is mainly dominated by above-mentioned environmental seven strong, so they especially of concern in the environmental foreign policy. However, there is no academic environment at home and abroad so far seven countries Comparison of environmental diplomacy. I argue in connection with the seven major environmental similarities and differences between national environmental diplomacy, to make a preliminary comparison.
a The seven countries of different environmental diplomacy
rich biodiversity, as natural as the world environment is a large country with different styles of environmental diplomacy and distinct features.
1. Seven States in international environmental affairs in the current status and role of a country different
the role of international environmental affairs size, can be divided into four categories: leaders, active participants, spectators (free ride), and drag those. If the global environmental issues with the degree of concern for participation in international environmental negotiations, environmental compliance assistance to the extent and intensity of the external environment (the indicator for the developed countries) against the four major indicators of the seven countries study on the environment, can be seen: field of the environment and the world is not real leader. In contrast, Germany, Japan at the forefront of Brazil, China and India center, after the Russian position in the United States ranks last.
seven countries, Germany is the most radical, the world environment prospective leaders, , such as climate change negotiations, biosafety negotiations, trade and environment negotiations. Tracing the source, the EU is actually a key driver behind the German.
Second, in the domestic and international environmental issues are often the first step, play role model. Germany the world's leading environmental legislation. Germany has gradually established a set of the world's most perfect, more than 8,000 laws by the national environmental legal system composed of .2002, the revised nuclear power, shocked the world. Germany's Green Party politics is the world's most active.'s environmental assessment in the OECD, Germany is recognized as the world's most environmentally friendly countries. In the international environmental arena, often made of Germany's most radical goal, and often exceeded the international environmental treaty obligations. whether it is acid rain, ozone layer protection or global climate change issue reflects this characteristic in Germany.
Third, in international environmental negotiations to play a key role. This is embodied in the today's most complex international climate change negotiations of 1992 and signed by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the theme of Kyoto Protocol One area, in comparison with other environmental powers, Germany ahead (see Table 1).
Fifth, in the provision of official development assistance (ODA) aspects of a downward trend, the performance of poorly .1983 -1990 years, the German ODA accounted for gross national income (GNI) has been the proportion of about 0.4% of the years after high minus .1990, ODA increased from 0.42% in 1998 down to 0.26% of the lowest, and its commitment to account for 0.7% of national income difference between the proportion of assistance .2004 far, only Germany ranks fifth in the world total aid. This is why Germany can only be called a Yes. to 2003, for example, Germany's ODA spending ratio is 0.28%, 0.20% higher than in Japan, the United States 0.15%.
In short, Germany is to promote environmental protection in the world today a major force, but harder to crown the title of the world's environmental leaders. to become a world environmental leaders, must have two conditions: strong political will, strong financial and environmental science and technology strength. Germany has relatively strong political will to promote the world's environmental, but terms of financial and technological strength, it is difficult to compete with the United States and Japan. This is why Germany in international environmental affairs, rarely alone, mostly with the overall strength of the EU deal with the reasons for the US-Japan game.
in Germany after was Japan. Japan is a prominent characteristic of environmental diplomacy:
first, vigorously strengthen the system of environmental diplomacy in Japan .1993 set up a check the environmental progress of the implementation of the basic plan and policy direction for the next report to the Government of .2001, the Environment Agency upgraded to Ministry of the Environment, the Environment, Japan began to develop foreign policy and participates in international environmental negotiations play an important role. The Ministry of the traditional strong MITI to provide environmental assistance to developing countries also take on important responsibilities. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is mainly responsible for technical cooperation projects, in the past has been the Ministry of Foreign Affairs following a semi-official body, but in 2004 became an independent administrative body, the power has increased greatly. Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), official aid is mainly responsible for project finance loans, established in 1999. Since the 20th century, especially since the 90's the new century, the Japanese business formed outside Province, Ministry of the Environment and Industry as the center, the Japan International Cooperation Agency and Japan Bank for International Cooperation as the main support agencies, other ministries and agencies to promote collaborative environment for foreign system.
Second, increase the intensity of international environmental assistance. Even 90s in the 20th century, that is recognized worldwide as the Japanese economy environmental aid, has greatly improved Japan's international image. To this end, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development Secretary-General Maurice. Strong will be a Huanjing ODA accounted for the total ODA rose from 9.8% in 1989 rose to 30.5% in 1999, 2002, is an unprecedented 35.2%.
be noted that, although Japan's foreign environmental assistance to the Japanese environmental diplomacy contribution is large, but so far Japan whaling, pollution and ecological plunder the transfer many aspects of behavior also widely criticized by the international community, as its lingering environmental diplomacy.
China, Brazil and India called active participant in international environmental affairs.
as the largest developing country, China has been positively participate in international environmental cooperation, environment and development in the world to play a constructive role, widely praised by the international community was developing countries as a reliable friend, was developed as a willing partner. As of 2006, China has signed with 42 countries of bilateral environmental cooperation agreements or memoranda of understanding, initially set up bilateral environmental cooperation covering the five continents framework. China has also signed more than 50 international multilateral environmental agreements .2007, the Chinese government decided to stop all outside except for essential uses of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halon production and imports, two and a half ahead of completion of the Protocol Foreign Work Leading Group, released the neighboring countries or relevant regional environmental cooperation, not only in Japan and South Korea established a mechanism for environment ministers meeting, also successfully held in 2005, the first GMS environment ministers meeting, ASEAN and China (10 +1) and ASEAN, Japan and ROK (10 +3) mechanism of environmental cooperation started. In addition, the Chinese government's initiative, the ASEM Environment Ministers Meeting mm Arab countries and China also embarked on environmental cooperation mechanism for meeting the track. At the same time China is also active in environmental cooperation with developing countries and exchanges. In line with the follow-up China-Africa Cooperation Forum, hosted by China, . The Chinese government also held a One of donor countries, and in the previous play a positive role in capital increase.
Brazil, since the 20th century, 90 years, on a positive attitude towards international environmental cooperation. Brazil has successfully hosted the landmark 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, highly praised by the international community. in biodiversity and climate change negotiations, Brazil has played a key role. In the years 1990 -1992 the negotiations of the Convention on Biological Diversity, a key issue in biodiversity and biotechnology relations. As the world's biotechnology industry 2 / 3 of the hands are controlled in the United States, the United States strongly advocated strict adherence to international intellectual property law. And as the world's most biologically diverse country, Brazil, organized by the biodiversity-rich consortium of countries to defend the interests of origin of biological diversity. outcome of the negotiations is not fully applicable to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the protection of intellectual property rules, to a certain extent, protect the rich biological diversity of the national interest. in the global climate change negotiations, the Brazilian active participation, play an important role in .1997, Brazil in the international climate change negotiations to make a suggestion: the creation of the Clean Development Fund. Fund quantified emission reduction targets can not be completed by the developed countries to pay the fine structure, to support the use of clean technologies in developing countries. This proposal received the support of developing countries, but was the unanimous opposition of developed countries. a few months later, the United States and Brazil announced the changes to the Clean Development Fund, the Clean Development Mechanism program mm (CDM) mm allows developed countries to developing countries to build sustainable development by supporting projects partially offset their emissions targets. This has been a win-win arrangement for the general support of States Parties, as the After the concrete implementation of the CDM is also put forward many suggestions, such as the establishment of a new fund to help developing countries to get more clean technology. Brazil's second contribution to the performance of the eve of the Kyoto Conference in 1997 proposed reducing emissions based on the cumulative obligation to share the row copy of negotiations. The copy should be made to the calculation of carbon emissions since the late 18th century, the cumulative carbon emissions as a benchmark rather than 1990 as the base for future negotiations on developing countries into the ranks of the reduction provided strong support caused strong repercussions in the international arena. Brazil's latest contribution is in August 2006 launched a post-Kyoto international climate change regime, full design, has given rise to a high degree of attention.
India, is very active on the international environment, members of the stage .1972 of the United Nations Conference on Human Environment held at the British Prime Minister of India to pull. Gandhi led a delegation to participate in, is in addition to hosts outside of the only head of government. for the developed countries about the environment on the environment was the tendency to pull the British. Gandhi at the meeting that eyes less developed countries, India is a tough opponent. For example, in the climate change negotiations, India first proposed take responsibility for emissions reductions should be based on per capita emissions standards.
2002 年 11 months, India's use of Framework Convention, Under the framework of sustainable development to address climate change, but also emphasized the vulnerability and adaptability of the urgency. differentiated responsibilities national development planning. the leadership role of the host Government of India and the unity of the developing countries.
Russia, is the international environmental affairs in a more active participant. from an official statement, environmental planning and participation in the number of international environmental treaties, Russia on international environmental cooperation attaches great importance to environmental diplomacy has also developed the goals and strategies, but in fact, Russia has obvious environmental diplomacy transitional features, the lack of coherence and consistency between words and deeds, there is a big commitment and performance gap between the so-called thunder and rain. Russia's reform of its national environmental agencies, environmental and international environmental compliance funding reflect this characteristic. in the environmental institutional reform, 2000 May 17 Russo-Japanese withdrawal of the Russian Federation State Committee for Environmental Protection and its functions transferred to the Russian Federation Ministry of Natural Resources .20 half-century since the department in improving the environmental status of a world trend, the Russian environmental protection departments have weakened their position, quite puzzling. In terms of environmental inputs, the Russian presence serious shortage: In 1994, the Russian environmental aspects of its fiscal budget allocation of 0.6%, accounting for 0.15% of GNP; 2003 budget for environmental protection system of the federal budget amounted to only 0.3 to 0.4%. In terms of international compliance, there is a big gap between Russia: While adding a number of international environmental treaties, but compliance is not satisfactory.
in the June 5, 2003, Bureau of the Committee meeting as soon as possible to form a complete set of systems of national environmental foreign policy. At the meeting, the Working Group made on cooperation, Russia's often not proactive. Russia's diplomatic shortcomings in this area, countries in economic transition is universal, that is, insufficient funding, the daily operation of international institutions and international environmental treaties entered into the budget required for minimal and pay from time to time, the lack of worked in international organizations, and has extensive knowledge and practical experience of professional environmental protection personnel. In fact, some international agencies on behalf of the Russian power has been lost. The results, the Russian environmental diplomacy is often to others respond to the initiative, rather than put forward their own policy, can not play a strong positive effect.
into the 21st century, the United States as the global environmental protection who drag. in the extent of global environmental concerns, Bush administration dropped significantly. counterterrorism and domestic economic development as the Bush administration's focus. in international environmental affairs, the U.S. government serving its own interests, .2001 strong unilateralism, Bush announced that the U.S. withdraw from the In 2002, he refused to attend the crucial meeting of world leaders on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, concentrated reflection of the U.S. government's neglect of global environmental issues. in the level of participation in international environmental negotiations, and as of 2006, the United States at the United Nations Environment Programme Department list of 14 most universal international environmental treaties, only 8 of them to join, adding rate is much lower than other major powers mm environment all join Germany and India, China, Japan, Brazil joined the 13, Russia's accession to the 12. into the 21st century, without any important international environmental negotiations launched at the initiative by the United States. In terms of external environmental assistance, from 1990 m2003, the United States, the proportion of official aid of their national income decline , from 0.21% to 0.15% in the last place in all developed countries.
2. Seven States
environmental diplomacy in different development path as a starting point to 1972, the evolution of environmental diplomacy seven countries show different History.
20 century until the early 80's, Germany was a drag by international environmental cooperation. From the early 80s, gradually change the negative German conservative stance, and actively promote environmental diplomacy to promote international environmental cooperation, until it becomes today World Environment the initial stage, environmental diplomacy became part of Japan's diplomacy; from the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development since the start of the preparatory activities, the Japanese entered the second phase of environmental diplomacy that focus on the development stage, environmental diplomacy has become Japan's diplomatic priority directions of development. 20th century, early 90s, the former Soviet Union, Russia was born. Yeltsin era, Russia's environmental diplomacy at the edge of the Russian diplomatic status; Putin's Russia was a greater emphasis on environmental diplomacy, status has improved. Evolution of the Environment of Brazil's foreign policy showing a distinct stages: from 1972, the United Nations Conference on Human Environment in Brazil began in 1990, the Brazilian government in international environmental issues and the contradictions and struggles in developed countries more than compromise and cooperation, policy tougher; Houba Xi's 1990 international environmental policy change significantly to a more cooperative attitude to participate in international environmental affairs, policy more flexible, more cooperative than the struggle, the role is more prominent. China's environmental diplomacy so far has gone through infancy (1972 -1988) and the rapid increase (1989 - present) in two stages, showing a clear development trend. The development of environmental diplomacy in India can be divided into two periods, namely, the seeds of the 1972 -1984 period and in 1984, after the Bhopal gas incident accelerate the development period. the United States is the 70s from the 20th century leader of the world environment, the gradual degradation of the early 21st century world of the drag by the Environmental Protection.
3. Seven States Environmental Diplomacy different focus for environmental
Germany Foreign Affairs, in addition to the world of the future political and economic structure occupies a better position than this consideration, the color green is relatively thicker some. Japan's environmental diplomacy is different, deeper color of its foreign. In Japan, environmental diplomacy has become Japan an important part of political power strategy. to play a role in the environmental field through the use of Japanese technology, economic forces contribute to the international community, thereby increasing the influence of Japan and establish a major power, Japan's primary objective for environmental diplomacy. India and The focus of Foreign Affairs of the Russian environment through environmental diplomacy, boost its economic development. China and Brazil, the environment is relatively more balanced foreign policy objectives, not only focus on the strengthening of international environmental cooperation, and promote their economic development, are increasingly willing to take concrete action to promote the improvement of the global environment. United States is currently the focus of environmental diplomacy is still the size of the U.S. economy, do not want to assume leadership responsibility for global environmental protection.
on understanding, India and the United States in a totally opposite ends. India adhere to the developed countries should bear the main responsibility for global environmental issues, the United States emphasize that all countries, particularly developing country should work with developing countries have on global environmental issues have a shared responsibility . China and Brazil and India, the same stand, but the tone as the Indian firm. Russia's position with India close to, but softer tone. Germany in the middle, both developed and developing countries recognize the global environmental issues in differentiated responsibilities, developed State should bear the primary responsibility, but also stressed the shared responsibility of both sides.
in the global environmental protection and national sovereignty relations, Germany and India in a totally opposite ends. Germany advocates to protect the global environment should weaken the sovereignty, called for establish a more authoritative global environmental organization, does not undermine protection of the environment in India insist on national sovereignty, the establishment of a new global environmental organizations are skeptical. China, Brazil and Russia that in order to protect the global environment, the issue of sovereignty to maintain a certain flexibility resistance is necessary. centered attitude of Japan. For the United States, for the environmental limit his sovereignty can, but limit the sovereignty of the United States is not enough.
environmental and security issues, the relative position of Germany and China. Germany advocated the integration of climate change and other environmental issues into the agenda of the Security Council, China expressed opposition. U.S., Japan secretly supported Germany. India supports China's position. Brazil, Russia, the middle position.
in the environment and trade issues, will strongly promote Germany environmental and trade issues into the agenda of the World Trade Organization negotiations. India are holding a negative attitude. the position of the middle of other big countries.
4. Seven States to the internal driving force for environmental diplomacy, environmental diplomacy in Germany different
benefit the development of some public support in Germany, in particular the support of the German Green Party. Germany's Green Party is the world's most influential In 1998 the Green Party, Green Party Social Democratic Party won parliamentary elections and formed a served as the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other departments of the minister, to have the opportunity to directly influence and develop Germany's environmental foreign policy. This is the other big countries not comparable. Japan's environmental diplomacy is mainly promoted by the Government, the Japanese government's Great Power Politics Strategy played a big role. China, India, Brazil and Russia are also government-led environmental diplomacy, but the main driving force is to create conditions for sustainable economic development. America's current environmental diplomacy mm by interest groups are mainly energy-related greater impact on large companies mm.
two of the seven environmental diplomacy of the country although the seven countries with the
significantly different environmental diplomacy, but there are three common.
1. Seven States economic considerations are always environmental diplomacy the cornerstone of
China, India, Brazil and other large developing countries and countries in transition, Russia, the focus in carrying out environmental diplomacy in the pursuit of sustainable economic development, which is understandable. But if the developed countries so that Germany, Japan Congress to give up other economic benefits for the global environmental protection and economic development, it would be wrong. In fact, the German performance in international environmental affairs, the radical transformation of its economy, ecology .20 on each other mid 80, Germany environmental protection industry has developed rapidly since then rampant income, stimulating the growing role of national economic development In 1994, the German environmental protection industry output value reached 33.3 billion U.S. dollars, accounting for 1.2% of GDP; employees 17.1% million, accounting for 0.48% of the employed population, 10.3% annual growth rate of output value (at current GDP growth rate is 3.8%) In 1998, the environmental protection industry and create employment opportunities to rise to 100 million, accounting for 3% of the entire working population. In 2002, the German wind power companies only to provide over 40,000 jobs. Transformation of the German economy is the German ecological environmental diplomacy boosters, and Germany through environmental diplomacy, in developing global environmental standards and rules play an important effects, but also for the German environmental technology and products provide a broad international export markets, thus promoting the economic development of Germany. Japan will carry out the development of recycling economy and environmental diplomacy closely integrated and mutually reinforcing. to the world's most successful bilateral environmental One of the Sino-Japanese cooperation in environmental cooperation mm Case: The essence of cooperation, as the developed countries, Japan, China as a developing country to provide funding and technical assistance, compared with Japan and China provide a huge market for environmental products, eventually achieve a win-win. U.S. diplomacy in carrying out environmental concerns on the domestic economy are well known .2001 Bush Administration announced its withdrawal from the br> 2. Seven States environmental diplomacy are an important influence by the United Nations environment
Throughout the diplomatic practice of the seven countries, without exception, have an important influence by the United Nations. So, what the United Nations seven countries to influence environmental diplomacy what?
First, by focusing on environmental issues, the seven countries to improve the degree of concern for environmental issues
the United Nations to play in three principal ways this effect: 1. by holding a variety of large, high-level International Conference on the Environment The United Nations succeeded in environmental concerns into the world's political agenda, so that the seven States are increasingly concerned about the environment. For example, in 1972 before the United Nations Conference on Human Environment, the world's very few countries concerned about environmental protection. The United Nations Conference on Human Environment held the seven countries started to pay attention to environmental issues, and gradually integrate environmental issues into the country's foreign strategies, from beginning the prelude to the contemporary environmental diplomacy In 1992 the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held the concept of sustainable development is to further heart of sustainable development into seven basic objectives pursued by the country .2. The United Nations, including seven countries through the international community, including environmental information, improve environmental awareness in seven countries. The United Nations Conference on Human Environment, the United Nations every year 6 April 5 as World Environment Day, the global environmental publicity and education In 1973, the United Nations established the Global Environment Information Network mm Earth observation, is responsible to provide the world situation and the global environment trends. Since 1997, the United Nations Environment Planning to start writing special committee (IPCC), the main task of the scientific understanding of climate change, climate change and climate change adaptation and mitigation measures may be assessed. to 2007, IPCC Fourth Assessment Report were published, has become the international community to recognize and understanding of the climate change problem is largely a scientific basis, to enhance the world's attention on climate change had a huge impact. The United Nations of these practices, the environment of heightened awareness of the seven countries played a major role in .3. the United Nations by presenting and disseminating new concepts, new ideas, for the seven countries to provide a theoretical basis for environmental diplomacy. Looking around the seven countries of today's environmental diplomacy, despite the radical and a conservative, positive and negative in others, but the seven countries have advocated in the environment should adhere to diplomacy principles and concepts of sustainable development. and this is a significant contribution to the United Nations. Second World War, the contradiction between environment and development and the gradual accumulation of growing. how to deal with the contradiction between environment and development related to the future of human development, as put in a major issue before mankind .20 Century Club of Rome 70 years decided to establish the world of the Committee on Environment and Development In 1987, for the contradiction between environment and development, the World Commission on Environment and Development, the concept of sustainable development, and soon to include the seven countries in the world, including countries to accept far-reaching implications. < br> Second, the seven countries participating in the promotion of international environmental negotiations, the United Nations role in international environmental cooperation was
is the only way to solve global environmental problems. cooperation requires negotiation, and international environmental negotiations, the key to success lies in the seven countries of the positive participation. The United Nations facilitated by the seven countries actively participate in international environmental negotiations: 1. the United Nations in full grasp of the information related to environmental issues, the issues frequently raised environmental negotiations, the initiative launched environmental treaty negotiations. According to incomplete statistics, in 1972 m2001 reached on 302 years of environment-related international treaties, at least half of the treaty negotiations initiated by the United Nations .2. The United Nations actively promote the long-term practice of international environmental negotiations, according to the complexity of environmental issues and non- deterministic features, and explore the negotiation of the Protocol of the Convention m model proved to be more effective .3. The United Nations environmental negotiations not only the issues, but also often the place for international environmental negotiations. For example ...