Globalization is simply worldwide interconnectedness. It is a fact that globalization has made boundaries less relevant in contemporary times. There are different forms of globalization i.e. social globalization, economic globalization, political globalization, environmental globalization etc. but in this article environmental globalization would be of the main focus which is considered an oldest form of globalization.
Environmental globalization can be defined as positive and negative effects of globalization on the environment. Covid-19 broke out in the country of China and within weeks, it spread all around the world. This is evidence that globalization in the 21st century is thicker and quicker. It took centuries for the smallpox disease to spread all over the world, despite the fact that covid-19 is also an airborne disease. Similarly, the plague spread all over the world within years. In the 21st century, it took weeks for a virus to spread but in earlier centuries, diseases took from centuries to years to completely affect the world. The world has benefited from globalization for years as a number of new crops have been used by people all over the world.
Climate change would affect each and every life on the earth. There is too much water in some regions while a little in others, so such regions would witness more floods, storms etc. The world’s temperature is rising very quickly. Due to rise in temperatures, glaciers are melting which leads to floods, hurricanes, storms etc. Anything happening in one part of the world would have an effect on people living in another part of the world.
It is a common belief that globalization has adverse effects on the environment and most of the people support this belief. They put forward the argument that when globalization is widened and deepened, then demand for goods increases globally. Due to this, production also increases which leads to exploitation of the environment but de-globalization may worsen the effects on the environment. Local industries would use technologies which are not environment friendly so de-globalization would decrease collaboration to make and use environmental friendly technology.
Overall, globalization has increased cooperation and 21st century globalization is faster, cheaper and deeper. All forms of globalization are dominant and have good effects on the lives of people but in the case of the environment, many scholars argue that globalization has adverse effects on the environment.
