Module 5: Stewardship and Sustainable Prosperity

Introduction

What are the contemporary impacts of economic globalization on the environment?

From the International Space Station, the geographic changes made to this planet in the drive to industrialize and expand global trade are visible. The damage to the ozone layer, the reduction of the polar ice cap, and the spreading deforestation and desertification of the surface of the land are observable. Much of these geographic changes have happened in less than one hundred years. Many people believe the alarm has been sounded to face the global environmental crisis and resolve it before the prosperity of future generations is permanently compromised.

In Module 4 you explored understandings of quality of life, prosperity, and sustainability in a globalizing world. In this module you will continue your inquiry into the following related issue: To what extent does globalization contribute to sustainable prosperity for all people?

In many worldviews the relationship to the land is critical to the quality of life, prosperity, and sustainability of people. Economic globalization since the end of World War II has accelerated the amount of resources consumed and the amount of waste generated. Western influence on land use and resource exploitation has impacted relationships with the land—especially Indigenous relationships.

You will examine the potential environmental losses of the twenty-first century in relation to the forces of globalization. Is environmental loss the price of globalization? Are developed countries sacrificing prosperity for all people in order to maintain economic systems of capitalism and free trade? Are less-developed countries limiting their own prosperity because of the inability to maintain environmental sustainability within their own borders? Damage to the land and water are the most visible signs of environmental loss. Severe weather is evidence of climate change. What else results from environmental loss? You will inquire into the relationship between globalization, the environment, and prosperity. In what ways are poverty, hunger, and conflict in less-developed countries reflective of environmental losses?

deforestation: the loss of areas of trees because of clear-cutting or urbanization

desertification: the transition of a viable and vibrant area of land into a desert-like condition due to overexploitation or climate change

environmental sustainability: the condition of maintaining the current state of the environment without further damage in the future

At the end of this module you will use your understandings of the multiple perspectives and issues on globalization and sustainability. You will take a position on the extent that globalization should be embraced or resisted in order to sustain prosperity for all people.