Environmentalism in the World

The globalization that took place in the 1990s coincided with the dramatic upsurge of environmentalism all over the world. The 1990s marked the end of the cold war which paved the way for the economic and political sweep of globalization and also the rise of the global movement for environmental protection. The environmental conventions and agreements which were signed during 1972–80 were less associated with public goods of international concern, but had more to do with national environmental problems of international concern. This chapter examines the local impact of these conventions and its communication systems. It considers climate change in relation to the World Trade Organization and explores the problem of upscaling local environmental success in order to enjoy global environmental benefits. It also discusses why some nation-states welcome imported hazardous wastes.