The relevance of the BP oil spill for global environmental politics
Having had one of the world’s foremost authorities on climate change as a PhD advisor when I was doing my doctorate was a bit challenging at times, because a lot of people didn’t understand how could I be supervised by a climate expert and NOT be interested in climate policy at all. I now do a bit of climate work. This year I have started a project on climate change and water, and since 2006 I have incorporated climate-related examples in the classroom when I teach environmental politics.
I have no problem admitting that it irks me when people assume that climate change is THE one and only environmental problem that we have. I can’t even begin to tell you how many people start their conversations with me by mentioning Al Gore and An Inconvenient Truth. And of course, I smile sweetly and roll my eyes. I am a pollution control specialist, not a climate one. I will fully admit that, up until I had to start teaching with examples from the climate negotiations, I had absolutely no interest whatsoever in climate policy. My focus was, and continues to be, finding ways to minimize the impact WE (humans) already have on the planet.
I have spent the better part of the last decade studying human behaviour and processes to minimize and curtail pollution in solid waste and in water. I am one of the very, very few social scientists who study wastewater governance, worldwide. Most of the focus on water is on QUANTITY not on QUALITY. And it does disappoint me when people forget that there are MANY other environmental problems worldwide beyond climate. This is one of the reasons why I have never been too fond of the excessive exposure that global warming and climate change have in the media.
While I am completely and utterly heartbroken by the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico (not only for the negative environmental consequences, but also because of the magnitude and extent of the damage), I am somewhat hopeful. Yes, this may sound contradictory, but I feel vindicated. The BP oil disaster has reminded the world that pollution is STILL one of the most important environmental problems we haven’t solved. We need to continue to work to reduce our impacts on the environment, and pollution is a big impact.
I mused on Twitter that the next time somebody tells me why I eschew climate policy in favor of water and pollution control policy, my answer will be just two words: “BP Spill”.
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Excellent post! I’m really glad to see your interest in the many different environmental issues we should be dealing with, rather than a single issue focus on climate change.
I wonder, though, if our brains have so much trouble dealing with complexity that thinking in terms of single issues is a way of dealing with it? We have to make our decisions based on something, and it’s almost paralyzing to have to think about the carbon emissions and pollution and water use and potential erosion and topsoil loss… And if you throw in human labor issues, fair wages, etc it becomes a hugely complex problem to decide even what to eat for dinner!
I have a cottage in northeern ontario canada-2 hummingbird feeders are out and cleaned weely-it is now early July-I have seen one hummingbird at the feeders-this BP spill has def ruined my paradise and its nature-the0 world of poitics and power still rule-shame on you!!!!!