Environmental Challenges: Scarcity and Conflict in the Natural Environment
War and conflict can severely disrupt the governance of the environment. What is the impact on both people and the environment?
Duration
2 weeks
Weekly study
5 hours
100% online
How it works
Unlimited subscription
Learn more
Accreditation
More info
Human conflict has both short and long term effects on the natural world. The environment is directly impacted by pollution and explosions; and can be used as a weapon of war. In the longer term, sustainable environmental management is disrupted when conflict destabilises social systems and people are denied access to natural resources. As resources become scarcer, it might be expected that people come into conflict about access to natural resources.
This course explores three aspects of conflict and resource scarcity, and applies these to explore decision making and negotiation skills.
What topics will you cover?
- Be introduced to the pioneering environmental economist Ken Boulding.
- Understand the difference between a ‘cowboy’ economy based on throughput, and a circular ‘spaceman’ economy.
- Appreciate the role of technology in changing production methods and enabling increased exploitation of natural resources.
- Understand how demand for natural resources, in particular oil for energy, has led to conflict.
- Be aware of the contrasting concepts of ‘water wars’ and ‘water peace’ over access to and management of water resources.
- Understand how appropriately negotiated property rights and institutional arrangements are important for water peace.
- Understand how conflict can lead to increased environmental vulnerability of civilian populations and mass mortality though famine and disease.
- Be introduced to Amartya Sen and the concept of development as freedom.
- Be introduced to contrasting theories on international regimes.
- Understand the impact of conflict on environmental management in north Lebanon.
- Appreciate the role of trust relationships and the effect of ‘wasta’ on post-conflict environmental management.
More courses you might like
Learners who joined this course have also enjoyed these courses.
