Linked with our presentation of Jason Morrison – USA.
And linked with our presentation of Economic Globalization and the Environment.
The Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Economic Globalisation studies the effects of the increasingly integrated global economy on the environment and society.
The explosive growth of the global economy threatens the natural systems that sustain life on Earth. Despite some significant successes in reducing industrial pollution and increasing efficiency, globalization is devastating natural habitats, speeding global warming, and increasing air and water pollution. At the same time, due to the increasingly global nature of trade and business, traditional national environmental protection techniques have become less effective.
The Economic Globalization and the Environment (EGE) Program studies the local, national, and international impacts of globalization while developing solutions to support healthy economic growth, protect the environment, and create a more equitable world. (Read more on Pacific Institute).
The International NGO Network on ISO (INNI) is a project of the Pacific Institute’s Economic Globalization and the Environment (EGE) program and has its own website. The INNI website provides timely information on the activities of ISO to network organizations so that they can activate their members, provide guidance to decision-makers, and shape public opinion. (See on International NGO Network on ISO).
What started as an effort to standardize nuts and bolts has grown into something altogether different. Much like trade rules and the WTO, international standards and the organizations that make them have deep effects on society, the environment and corporations. These rules can be of great value to environmentalists and those working to promote socially responsible business practices – but only if environmental groups and other organizations make their voices heard. (See more on International Standards, Public Policy and the Environment).
Many environmentalists, government officials, and corporate leaders believe that the existing regulatory system, though it has accomplished much, is approaching the limits of its effectiveness. Environmental Management Systems (EMSs) — which require a continuous cycle of planning, implementing, reviewing and improving procedures — have emerged as an important tool in improving environmental performance above legal minimums. Our project is working to strengthen the overall credibility and usefulness of EMSs so we can reduce pollution, protect human health, and help our economy thrive. (Read more on Environmental Management Systems and Reporting).
As part of our work on environmental standards and regulation, we are studying innovative ways to measure and reduce environmental pollution that protect the public and the environment while increasing economic productivity. The Pacific Institute’s most recent report on this subject, “Creating a Framework for Sustainability in California: Lessons Learned from the New Zealand Experience,” won the Silicon Valley Environmental Leadership Award. (Read more on Innovations Towards Sustainability).
Some other Topics and Programs of the Pacific Institute: