Abnehmende Kooperation in der Umweltpolitik trotz zunehmender wirtschaftlicher Integration : das kanadisch-amerikanische Verhältnis im Umweltbereich
Over the last decades, Canada and Switzerland, countries with "small" economies, when compared with their neighbours, have experienced increasing economic Integration with their main trading partners, the United States and the European Community (EC) respectively. Using a political-economi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | deu |
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Copernicus Publications
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| Series: | Geographica Helvetica |
| Online Access: | http://www.geogr-helv.net/47/112/1992/gh-47-112-1992.pdf |
| Summary: | Over the last decades, Canada and Switzerland, countries
with "small" economies, when compared with their neighbours,
have experienced increasing economic Integration
with their main trading partners, the United States and the European Community (EC) respectively. Using a political-economic
approach, this article analyzes the effects of growmg
Integration for management of transboundary, environmental problems in North America. As well, in view of the Canadian experience, possible implications for Switzerland in its
future relationship to the EC are addressed.<br>
In the past the Canadian-American debate over transboundary
environmental problems has centered around questions
of territory. Despite increasing economic Integration, the
dominant reaction to ecological interdependence has been
reliance on national policies. In accordance with the American, economic leadership in the continental System, the kind
of political response to transboundary, environmental Problems is mainly dictated by the importance of the problem in
the United States. The Great Lakes are an area of mutual concern and, therefore, an example for limited, environmental Cooperation and the adoption of an environmental advanced
Position. In the U. S., the political response to acid rain was reactive
and delayed, since only certain regions were concerned. Despite Canadian domestic and international efforts
during the 1980s, until recently no significant progress has
been made in developing effective measures to abate air
emissions.<br>
The conclusion of the Canada-U. S. Free Trade Agreement
(FTA) in 1988 did not change the very nature of the mutual environmental relationship. However, in the corollary to the FTA
serious threats to the environment can be identified. Liberalized
trade and restrained State Intervention foster the accelerated
exploitation of Canada's natural resources and further the harmonization of environmental Standards between
the two countries.<br>
In view ofthe Canadian experience, the article concludes that
for Switzerland an economic agreement with the EC without
parallel environmental commitments could have significant,
negative consequences. |
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| ISSN: | 0016-7312 2194-8798 |