Globalization has rendered the mankind at a disjuncture between traditional geopolitical specifications— spatial or territorial— and the new age political landscape, which is more material than moral in context of economics, society and environment. This has led to rising concerns about natural resource depletion, global warming, climate change, wildlife extinction, space colonization, rising sea levels, droughts, floods, destruction of natural habitats like forests and coral reefs etc. Mankind has definitely taken the fate in his own hands- where gluttony has taken over governance.
It is interesting then to see how modern school of thought on one hands promotes environment management and on the other economic development at the cost of the very environment. If in 19th and 20th centuries, the world environment and geography determined the destinies of imperial regimes, political rivalries and struggle for global dominance; 21st century is emblematic of the consequences of human—nature relationships, such as climate change. Similarly, earlier the use of coal and later oil determined the power dynamics of the countries but now a diametric shift to renewables— tapping into the intangible such solar heat, wind speed etc. has become the norm of the day. Often believed that it is money and power which influences the global economy, but many have forgotten the salient importance of the natural forces like those of energy and wildlife, which subtly have brought about revolution and evolution both tangible and intangible.
Though the acceptance of Sustainable development goals and Paris Agreement 2015 and few others have set the precedence, yet a lot needs to be done to actually create widespread awareness. The countries might have ratified the these international apparatuses but without any action at grass—root level where the entire civil society takes part— these attempts will be stalled.
Of course a consolidated effort is required but individually… Each nation needs to take onus for the climate policy rather than formulating any more geopolitical arrangement. If at all any, States need to focus on geopolitics of environment itself, with influencers installed to inspire at grass—root level. We need a new—age Gandhi today who has the motivation and zest to bring about any visible change and influence the environment politics.