Protecting Global Ecosystems: International Environmental Efforts - Essay Sample

Introduction

Environmental protection has become a fundamental focus for numerous nations around the world. The occurrence has occurred following the continued realization of the need to reduce the level of destruction recorded on the global ecosystems due to various myriad anthropogenic activities. Additionally, today, it has become a moral obligation for nations and individuals alike to protect the global environment from pollution and phenomena that result in its degradation. International Environmental Law is a notable facet of international policy that has been a phenomenon in enforcing compliance of environment conservation measures among global nations since its enactment.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Order now

Target Publication

The focus of this research is to provide an analysis of various trends impacting the effectiveness of international environmental law in today’s contemporary global societies. The concepts and content to be analyzed have been summarized in the publication, The Future of International Environmental Law prepared and edited by Leary and Pisupati (2010). Additionally, the publication provides a comprehensive discussion of the triumph of the International Environmental Law in safeguarding the environment from degradation by various activities of humans. Also, the stated publication provides a summary of various trends and concepts that have hampered the successful conservation of the global environment under the provisions of the International Environmental Law.

Concepts Reflection

Nanotechnology is among the concepts discussed in the featured publication, whose invention has significantly contributed to the preservation and protection of the environment from degradation. Nanotechnology is measured as the science or engineering that occurs due to the manipulation of matter in the environment, particularly atoms and molecules (Leary & Pisupati, 2010. Pp. 227). It is valid that nanotechnology has played part in environmental conservation through the creation of products and applications that facilitate climate or environmental protection in terms of saving raw materials, water, energy, and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions (Yunus et al., 2012. Pp.140). However, it is plausible that the potential risks of utilizing nanotechnology in the environment have been under covered. Moreover, there are no sufficient legal or regulatory frameworks in place to protect the environment from any side effects that may be caused by nanotechnology.

Bioenergy

The creation of bioenergy has also been played a crucial role in promoting the efforts of International Environmental Law in conserving the global environment. (Leary & Pisupati, 2010. Pp. 247). Bioenergy refers to all forms of energy that are produced through the use of vegetation (Palz, Coombs & Hall, 2020. Pp. 121). Such energy can be created using sugarcane or distilled corn among other vegetation products. In this case, the use of biofuels in powering vehicles and operating machines in industries has reduced the level of emissions to the environment (Ramos et al., 2016. Pp. 436). Nevertheless, it is also true that it is essential to consider the various risks that bioenergy may pose to the environment. Examples of such risks include risks to energy balance, GHG emissions, food and water impacts, air, and eradication of impacted invasive species.

Synthetic Biology and Synthetic Genomics

Synthetic biology is a concept of biotechnology that entails redesigning various organisms with the aim of reinventing them to create new abilities (El Karoui, Hoyos-Flight & Fletcher, 2019. Pp.1). The utilization of synthetic biology today has led to the creation of new forms of power generation methods and in the creation of solutions for various issues in agriculture, manufacturing, and medicine fields. Contrary, synthetic genomics is a concept in synthetic biology that utilizes genetic modification on improving or enhancing the health state of genetic modification through creating life forms with new DNAs or superiorly unique and new lifeforms (Konig et al., 2013. Pp.11; U.S. Congress, 2012. Pp. 21). Arguably, it is valid to state that such biotechnologies have yielded substantial positive effects but they should also be utilized with caution to avoid destructive effects on the environment.

The use of recombinant DNA in the future poses a threat to efforts aimed at conserving the environment through the guidelines of the International Environmental Law. Additionally, that is because biotechnological processes like synthetic biology as well as synthetic genomics have facilitated the creation of alternative fuel sources such as ethanol from cellulosic biomass among other products that pose a significant risk of environmental degradation (Demirbas, 2004. Pp.79; Sladkowski, 2020. Pp. 92). In a different example, the stated biotechnologies have also facilitated the manufacturing of new forms of drugs like Artemisinin, which is an antimalarial drug attained from sweet wormwood insects (Leary & Pisupati, 2010. Pp. 274). In this context, it would be essential to take caution when using biotechnologies as they might derail or hamper the global environmental measures in the future.

Multilateral Environmental Agreements

The Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) is another concept that has been discussed in the Leary and Pisupati (2010) publication, which has yielded a positive effort in promoting the efforts of the International Environmental Law. Additionally, that is because the MEAs are agreements that were developed between different States that set out legal-binding principles on how to protect the environment (Leary & Pisupati, 2010. Pp. 149). Today, the efforts of the MEA have been successful in encouraging many governments to take significant strides aimed at protecting the environment from degradation (Sjostedt, 2020. Pp. 1). Also, the authors of the stated publication are also right that the efforts of MEAs will also positively impact billions of people globally in the years to come (Leary & Pisupati, 2010. Pp. 149). As such, it is an international policy that should be promoted by all global societies to ensure the continued protection of global ecosystems for future generations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, International Environmental Law is a notable facet of international policy that has promoted the compliance of environment conservation measures among global nations since it was enactment. Additionally, this has been through advancing efforts by global societies meant to protect the environment from degradation by various human activities. Today, that nanotechnology has played part in environmental conservation through the creation of products and applications that facilitate climate or environmental protection in terms of saving raw materials, water, energy, and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions. The use of bioenergy in powering vehicles and operating machines in industries have reduced the level of emissions to the environment in today’s society. Furthermore, the utilization of synthetic biology today has led to the creation of new forms of power generation methods and in the creation of solutions for various issues in agriculture, manufacturing, and medicine fields. Similarly, synthetic genomics or recombinant DNA technologies have also facilitated the creation of new inventions that might be beneficial in further preserving the environment from degradation. Ultimately, MEAs have been successful in encouraging many governments to take significant strides aimed at protecting the environment from degradation

References

El Karoui, M., Hoyos-Flight, M., & Fletcher, L. (2019). Future trends in synthetic biology—A report. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2019.00175

Demirbas, A. (2004). Ethanol from cellulosic biomass resources. International Journal of Green Energy, 1(1), 79-87. https://doi.org/10.1081/ge-120027885

Konig, H., Frank, D., Heil, R., & Coenen, C. (2013). Synthetic genomics and synthetic biology applications between hopes and concerns. Current Genomics, 14(1), 11-24. https://doi.org/10.2174/138920213804999147

Leary, D., & Pisupati, B. (2010). The future of international environmental law. New York: United Nations University Press.

Palz, W., Coombs, H., & Hall, D. (2006). Energy from the biomass: Third EC conference. CRC Press.

Ramos, J., Valdivia, M., García-Lorente, F., & Segura, A. (2016). Benefits and perspectives on the use of biofuels. Microbial Biotechnology, 9(4), 436-440. https://doi.org/10.1111/1751-7915.12356

Sjostedt, B. (2020). The role of multilateral environmental agreements: A reconciliatory approach to environmental protection in armed conflict. Hart Publishing.

Sladkowski, A. (2020). Ecology in transport: Problems and solutions. Springer Nature.

U.S. Congress. (2012). Effects of Developments in Synthetic Genomics: Hearing Before the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, Second Session, May 27, 2010. Washington D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.

Yunus, I. S., Harwin, Kurniawan, A., Adityawarman, D., & Indarto, A. (2012). Nanotechnologies in water and air pollution treatment. Environmental Technology Reviews, 1(1), 136-148. https://doi.org/10.1080/21622515.2012.733966