Nafta and the Enforcement of Environmental Standards
Future Development and Enforcement of Environmental Standards within the NAFTA
Anthony Green
November 16, 2011
Dr. Michael Harvey’s International Business
There have been critics of the pollution mankind has created since the industrial revolution. Like most new ideas, being eco-friendly started slowly. The first environmental regulation attempted to ensure clean drinking water. As time progressed, more people started understanding that more than water was being affected. When more government regulations were created to help not only the drinking water, but also other ecosystems including our atmosphere, opponents readily voiced their dissent. This conflict over government regulation continues today. Every other week, it seems that someone is disproving or proving the existence of mad made ‘global warming.’ It is time to set aside personal beliefs and look at the facts. Whether or not ‘Global Warming’ is caused by humankind, the creation of ‘Green’ products has helped in the reduction of pollution and the conservation of our planet. In this paper, I am going to discuss the benefits and difficulties faced when countries address environmental protection standards. For some, protecting the environment has turned a tedious responsibility to a major cash cow. For other nations and organizations, the environment is the least of their concerns. Certainly the wealth of a nation is an important factor concerning how a government handles environment protection. Not all governments can afford the clean technology, yet. I will discuss how the NAFTA can foster and promote sustainable development not only in Canada, Mexico, and the US but as well as less developed nations. I will show that creating and implementing green technology might not that big of a burden. Instead, putting clean technology into practices can be a blessing. Finally, I will offer ideas on how NAFTA can effectively promote environmental standards by letting the free market and competition be the
Anthony Green
November 16, 2011
Dr. Michael Harvey’s International Business
There have been critics of the pollution mankind has created since the industrial revolution. Like most new ideas, being eco-friendly started slowly. The first environmental regulation attempted to ensure clean drinking water. As time progressed, more people started understanding that more than water was being affected. When more government regulations were created to help not only the drinking water, but also other ecosystems including our atmosphere, opponents readily voiced their dissent. This conflict over government regulation continues today. Every other week, it seems that someone is disproving or proving the existence of mad made ‘global warming.’ It is time to set aside personal beliefs and look at the facts. Whether or not ‘Global Warming’ is caused by humankind, the creation of ‘Green’ products has helped in the reduction of pollution and the conservation of our planet. In this paper, I am going to discuss the benefits and difficulties faced when countries address environmental protection standards. For some, protecting the environment has turned a tedious responsibility to a major cash cow. For other nations and organizations, the environment is the least of their concerns. Certainly the wealth of a nation is an important factor concerning how a government handles environment protection. Not all governments can afford the clean technology, yet. I will discuss how the NAFTA can foster and promote sustainable development not only in Canada, Mexico, and the US but as well as less developed nations. I will show that creating and implementing green technology might not that big of a burden. Instead, putting clean technology into practices can be a blessing. Finally, I will offer ideas on how NAFTA can effectively promote environmental standards by letting the free market and competition be the
References: 4. North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (1993) http://www.cec.org/Page.asp?PageID=122&ContentID=2730&SiteNodeID=567&BL_ExpandID 5 6. Theil, Stefan. "Germany: Best Governed Country In Environment." The Daily Beast. Newsweek, 28 June 2008. Web. 2 Nov. 2011. <http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2008/06/28/no-country-is-more-green-by-design.html>. 7. Gallagher, Kevin P. "Industrial Pollution in Mexico." Greening the Americas: NAFTA 's Lessons for Hemispheric Trade. Ed. Carolyn Deere-Birkbeck and Daniel C. Esty. Cambridge, MA: MIT, 2002. Print. 8. Nevaer, Louis E. V. NAFTA 's Second Decade: Assessing Opportunities in the Mexican and Canadian Markets. Mason, OH: Thomson/South-Western, 2004. Print. [ 5 ]. North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (1993) http://www.cec.org/Page.asp?PageID=122&ContentID=2730&SiteNodeID=567&BL_ExpandID= [ 6 ] [ 7 ]. Theil, Stefan. "Germany: Best Governed Country In Environment." The Daily Beast. Newsweek, 28 June 2008. Web. 2 Nov. 2011. . [ 8 ]. Gallagher, Kevin P. "Industrial Pollution in Mexico." Greening the Americas: NAFTA 's Lessons for Hemispheric Trade. Ed. Carolyn Deere-Birkbeck and Daniel C. Esty. Cambridge, MA: MIT, 2002. Print. [ 9 ]. Nevaer, Louis E. V. NAFTA 's Second Decade: Assessing Opportunities in the Mexican and Canadian Markets. Mason, OH: Thomson/South-Western, 2004. Print.