International negotiations and agreements have become critical components for enhancing sustainable development. Generally, the present century is confronted by a myriad of challenges. These range from environmental, technological and food. Evidently, several factors manipulate the types and outcomes of these international negotiations (Leichenko & O’Brien, 2008).
Globalization and technology include some of the elements of significance influence on the processes of negotiation. Climate change has led to the development of many protocols. In these initiatives, negotiations emerge as the fundamental media for the establishment of an adequate agreement. This paper examines the implications of globalization and technology on negotiation for climate change policies.
Many nations have taken part in the negotiation for climate change. There are different climatic policies that have been negotiated on. These vital negotiations have occurred within global domains. For instance, the United Nations “framework convention on climate change”, (UNFCCC) is a typical global environmental protocol (McMahon, 2008).
Having been conducted in 1992, the framework remains one of the explicit ratifications ever made by diverse nations. Generally, the UNFCCC was established with a collective mission. Ideally, the policy was aimed at safeguarding the globe from the detrimental impacts associated with the climate change. In this process, all nations and stakeholders were charged with specific responsibilities.
It is imperative to note the increased number of international negotiations focusing on climate change. For instance, the Kyoto protocol promotes and protects the environment (Leichenko & O’Brien, 2008). Technology and globalization play crucial roles in the design and execution of these negotiations.
Foremost, globalization has enabled several nations to share similar challenges. It is notable that the increased rate of technological application has led to the emergence of more transformative techniques. These include effective modes of communication, feedback processes and information transfer.
It is important to note that technological innovation has led to the development of easier and comprehensive systems of message exchange. Very distinct mechanisms such as videoconferencing have emanated. Indicatively, videoconferencing has enabled remotely located nations to engage in international negotiations targeting climate change in an active manner.
Because of globalization and technology, the negotiation processes on climate change have become more friendly and inclusive. It is presently notable that several states, including the developing countries are able to involve themselves in active climatic negotiations. An example can be drawn from the formulation of the renowned Kyoto protocol (McMahon, 2008).
During this process, many nations developed keen interests in the negotiation. In fact, most of these nations were from the underdeveloped destinations. It is a general agreement that technological advancement forms the basic platform for increased globalization. The vital role of technology as a social tool in enhancing the rate of adoption of protocols and international agreements cannot be ignored.
The effect of globalization on the formation and management of international climate change negotiations is also eminent. Technology and globalization have played a remarkable role in catapulting the sprouting of the fundamental global networks.
Notably, the global networks determine the kind and nature of negotiations to be adopted. Apart from this, the networks also dictate the number and nature of nations to be engaged in the negotiation process. Analytically, most nations that enjoy high levels of technological advancements tend to shy from the international climate change negotiations.
This detrimental trend is already observed in the United States. Agreeably, the United States failed to indulge itself in the negotiation concerning the Kyoto protocol (McMahon, 2008). Some negotiations have been considered unfair by most nations. Particularly, these relate to the countries that have less developed technological systems.
This is because global networks have emerged to impart significant control and power over the less developed or advanced states. As indicated by other personalities, the increased rate of technological development and globalization has led to the creation of unfair negotiation practices.
For example, climate change negotiations have been regarded or viewed to impart more pressure and controls on certain nations. Such global destinations might undergo this partial treatment because they are underdeveloped. It is obvious that the implications of technology and globalization on negotiations involving climate change are diverse.
However, there are other hidden implications that have great significance to this process (Leichenko & O’Brien, 2008). Technology and globalization have led to the increase in the rate and frequency of advocacy for sustainable practices. These are majorly aimed towards the attainment of satisfactory negotiation results.
There are several indications that can be drawn from the recent international outcry for concerned member nations to eliminate negative environmental practices. High technology makes the negotiation process to rely on more empirical and transformative investigations. Digital technology has lead to a significant increase in the number and extent of global networks.
Consequently, these networks have championed the availability of fundamental information on climate change. There are now readily available information on the factors and global activities that have cause climate change. Thus, negotiations on climate change are based on adequate information and empirical examples. The two factors contribute immensely to the development and spread of useful ideologies.
Specifically, these refer to the ideologies that promote the issues of climate change, lobbying and need for sustainable development practices (McMahon, 2008). New economy is a development mechanism that promotes the application and development of capitalism. In this essence, certain nations have struggled to accumulate great wealth.
This is practiced minus the consideration of the detrimental impacts on the environment. In this process, the practice of sustainable development and consideration of all good practices has been the cornerstone for international negotiation on climate change (Leichenko & O’Brien, 2008). Technological development and increased rate of innovation have had severe negative implications on international negotiations.
Additionally, these negative impacts have also been increased by the high level of globalization. There is a high rate and potential for information transfer. Moreover, communication speeds have been accelerated by different technological innovations. These innovations include the wide internet applications such as face book.
According to some sources, the threat on social media has significantly been felt during the international negotiations on climate change (McMahon, 2008). It is true that there is a high level of sabotage sentiments arising from the social media during such negotiations. Particularly, these emerge from the partners or negotiators that feel compromised or underprivileged by the negotiation mandates.
Conclusively, the implications of the high rate of technological advancement and globalization on international negotiations is eminent. The negotiations on climate change such as the Kyoto protocol have been adversely affected or impacted on by these factors. These impacts are experienced within national and global platforms. It is therefore imperative for nations and various stakeholders to note the impacts of these factors on negotiations.
References
Leichenko, R. M. & O’Brien, K. L. (2008). Environmental change and globalization: Double exposures. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
McMahon, H. (2008). Fact Sheet: International Negotiations on Climate Change. Web.