Category Archives: Go Green

Uncovering the Green Truth: The Role of Espionage in Environmental Politics – by Ainesh Dey and Jhanvi Jain

The Geo-strategic Premise of Environmental Espionage – Abstract

In current times with the rise in environmental crises like global warming, deforestation, and wildfires in the geopolitical scenario, it becomes imperative to collaborate and cooperate with other nations to find solutions to such crises at the global level. However, with every nation’s ulterior motive being involved, sharing environment or resource-related information can prove to be hazardous for the various nations and states especially in the international sphere.

The larger relationship between environment-related information, global partnership, and the possibility of espionage then becomes intertwined. Moreover, this delicate intertwining of these seamlessly connected dynamics of international relations, yet the divergently different motives with which each nation-state might be cooperating highlights the transition in international relations, the changing nature of espionage and the need to keep pace with these spaces.

Interconnectedness and the Multifaceted Impact
of Information Sharing

Some might question the necessity to share environment-related information since it can be potentially susceptible to espionage and the answer to this question is multifaceted. Now in the current context of globalization, seamless connectivity and collaboration given thata nation hypothetically holding back environment-related information, needed for collaboration and cooperation, gets affected economically by the nation from which it is withholding the information, as a result of multifarious social, economic and political pressures emanating from the latter.

The aforementioned premise, thereby draws on the multifaceted nature of the global sphere. The various dynamics of this sphere are integrated in such a way that the behavior of a state in the supposed economic sphere will affect it politically, culturally, and symbolically i.e. the way the particular state is represented through its symbols, anthem, popular figures etc, highlighting the broader importance of diplomacy. Given the nuanced implications of the intricacies of surveillance mechanisms, diplomacy in practice as stated above, needs to equip itself in such a way that it can adapt well to the changing times. With exhilarating advances in technology and the openness of the economy, the flow of information cannot be controlled.

Diplomatic processes inclusive of negotiation and dialogue involve tacit handling of seemingly paradoxical yet the realities of current times, to exert a certain degree of control. Efficient and effective diplomacy in the international realm makes this control to a certain degree beneficial for the state at large.

This brings us to another important point that it is not just diplomacy alone that shall be responsible for exercising the control of information, but a wider network of various public sector departments like cybersecurity departments, external affairs ministry, national security departments, etc, which work together to make sure that the diplomacy is able to effectively exercise a measure of desirable control.

Espionage, Diplomacy and the Private Sector

With the seamlessly multifaceted nature of the international realm, the potential of espionage involving the practice of spying or of using spies, typically by governments to obtain political and military information alongside the importance of diplomacy with its well-connected network of departments and sectors, brings in another critical issue which is about the private sector companies.

Given that the lines between privatization and the public sector remain blurred, a paradox of private companies being more efficient and effective in their leverage of cybersecurity, takes shape, despite the susceptibility of private sector companies to deal with other countries whereby there is greater incidence of information leakage.

The premise of ever-active vigilance which yet again takes different forms, when it comes to ensuring that adaptability to the different changes taking place worldwide, is ensured to create and maintain an advantageous position, the status quo in terms of security, integrity etc, becomes more pronounced.

Complexity of Cyberspace Governance
in the Contemporary Framework

Critical issues stemming from this relative multifaceted context of the information space, pertaining to the freedom that cyberspace enjoys. The lack of rules, and laws that could make cyberspace binding is lacking, and that makes regulations further difficult. Although, it should be noted that some laws and regulations, are prevalent in cyberspace internationally like 11 voluntary and non-binding norms of responsible state behavior in cyberspace, articulated in the 2015 U.N. Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) report.

Furthermore, even ASEAN has remained resolute and steadfast in its commitment to cyber stability. It has led the way to create a rules-based multilateral order in cyberspace, through cyber norms implementation. The protection of national and cross-border critical infrastructure supporting essential regional communications, trade, transportation, and logistics services yet their effectiveness remains a contentious issue.

The reason Is that bodies like the UN, and ASEAN are supernumerary extra-governmental bodies that do not enjoy sovereignty thereby a lack of effective legal force. The implication is that even though certain rules and laws govern cyberspace, it lacks sanctions which automatically makes its binding power null and void thereby becoming a subject of easy refutation by the states by and large.

Case Studies exhibiting the modus operandi
of Environmental Espionage

On a holistic note, several unique case studies elaborate the nature of environmental espionage or covert gathering of information related to environmental activities, policies, and practices carried out by individuals, organizations, or governments.

1. The Kundakulum Nuclear Plant Cyber Attack

This type of espionage specifically focuses on obtaining confidential or classified data related to environmental issues, such as pollution levels, resource management, conservation strategies, and environmental regulations can be highlighted through the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Cyber Attack in 2012 in India.

In this particular case, a third party called DTrack was used by hackers to attack financial and research centers in India. It attacked the computer system in the power plant and retrieved information related to the nuclear power resources in India, the further plan of action that the Indian Government has with regards to nuclear power plants in the future which thereby attacked the security system of India, confidential information sensitive for with regards to the security of India at large.

An important point that should be noted is that the cyber attack on the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant was in collaboration with the Russian government and a third party called DTrack identified as a North Korea-based company that was trying to infringe upon the security of India. This can be possibly attributed to the sensitive yet strained relations between the Russian government and the North Korean government, however it should be taken into consideration that despite a warning to the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) from the cybersecurity forces in India about a potential cyber attack, it chose to ignore the warning and this brings into role the importance of ever active vigilance that was highlighted before.

2. The South China Sea

Another similar instance that can be pointed out is about the activities in the South China Sea whereby several countries especially China, Indonesia along with Australia, the USA, and India say that they are carrying out maritime-related research and surveys but it’s a front for the carrying out of military activities and the new form of spying in contemporary times whereby the states are constantly trying to acquire information with regards to the deployment of military or naval ships, etc.

3. Technical Disruptions in the Middle East

Furthermore, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East often revolve around water scarcity. Countries like Israel, Jordan, and Palestine have been involved in disputes over access to water resources. In this regard, espionage or covert information gathering may occur in these regions to gain insights into water management strategies, plans, or technological advancements related to water conservation.

4. Arctic Resource Exploration

A major premise revolves around the exploration of resources of the Arctic. As the Arctic ice melts due to climate change, the region becomes more accessible for resource exploration. Countries like Russia, the United States, Canada, Denmark, and Norway have interests in the potential oil, gas, and mineral resources. Information related to exploration plans, environmental impact assessments, and resource estimates could be of strategic importance, leading to potential espionage activities.

With cyberspace being a free space, rule-free, and with advanced technological developments, the paradoxical nature of withholding environment-related information as replete in the aforementioned instances, the need to share information in contemporary times of collaboration and cooperation through effective diplomacy and ever-active vigilance shows that the space is a constantly evolving space in the arena of geopolitics.

Conclusion

In conclusion, environmental espionage has significant geopolitical implications, affecting state relations, environment protection efforts, technological innovation and strategic interests. The covert acquisition of environmental information and technologies can disrupt international co-operation, stain diplomatic relations and influence resource security and power dynamics among nations.

Additionally, the repercussions of environmental espionage extend far beyond the immediate geopolitical arena, permeating into the very fabric of global sustainability and environmental stewardship. The clandestine acquisition of environmentally sensitive data can compromise the integrity of conservation efforts, exacerbate ecological vulnerabilities and impede the progress towards collective climate action. Furthermore, it undermines the trust necessary for effective environmental governance and co-operation, hindering the international community’s ability to address effective issues of climate change, deforestation and biodiversity loss.

Addressing the challenges posed by environmental espionage requires a concerted effort to promote trust, transparency and co-operation. Only through collaborative efforts can the international community mitigate the negative geo-political impacts of information sharing and advance shared goals for the benefit of all nations and future generations.

References

1. Koh, David (December 9, 2020 ). The Geopolitics of Cyber Security.
https://thediplomat.com/2020/12/the-geopolitics-of-cybersecurity/

2. Lucas, Edward ( April 27, 2019). Deccan and Company. The Spycraft Revolution.
https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/04/27/the-spycraft-revolution-espionage-technology/

3. Pant, V Harsh ( May 7, 2019). Emerging technologies and geopolitical contestation.
https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/emerging-technologies-and-geopolitical-cont estation-50562

4. Vidal, John ( June 26, 2013) The reality of environmental espionage is more dramatic than the east.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/blog/2013/jun/26/reality-environmentalespionage-dramatic-the-east

New Climate Inflection Point in our Axial Age – by The Rev. Dr. John Pawlikowski

In my contribution to American Diversity Report at the beginning of 2023, I argued that we are living in an axial era where fundamental structures of human society are undergoing profound change. As we enter 2024, I would maintain with others such as former Senator John Kerry, now the U.S. Special Envoy for Climate Issues, that the final communique from the recent COP 28 conference in Dubai may represent an axial moment.

Special Envoy Kerry believes the Dubai decision to commit to a movement to eliminate the reliance on fossil fuels by the global community (as well as methane gas) signals a  fundamental shift in the way we provide power for the human community. Such a wholesale shift in the generation of necessary power throughout the world, if successful, would represent a fundamental reordering of our life together as a global community. It would insure the sustainability of our planet and firmly implant the right to a the right to a healthy environment for all living creatures proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 2023.    

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Bridging the Choice Chasm – by Dr. Shalini Nag and Surya Guduru

A path to a sustainable future

As we get look ahead to 2023, sustainability takes center stage, yet again. Can we really achieve a sustainable future? Today, we posit that we can, if we are able to apply the equity and inclusion lens to the problem and bridge the Choice Chasm – the seemingly unbridgeable gap between the haves and the have-nots, between developed and developing nations, between incumbent practices and emerging norms.

Aftershocks from the Covid19 pandemic exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, combined with climate chaos made 2022 a chronicle of global challenges. These include the intermittent resurgence of Covid variants, the mental health epidemic, continued supply chain disruptions, internal displacement in Ukraine, worsening food crisis in the world’s most vulnerable regions, and a global energy crisis. By October 2022, weather disasters alone cost nearly 20,000 lives and 30 billion dollars, refocusing governments and organizations alike on sustainability. 

Continue reading Bridging the Choice Chasm – by Dr. Shalini Nag and Surya Guduru

UN Declares the Right to a Healthy Environment – by the Rev. Dr. John Pawlikowski

On July 28, 2022, the General Assembly of the United Nations took a bold step in the ongoing process of caring for the creation we have inherited. By an overwhelming vote of 161 – 0, with eight member nations abstaining, the General Assembly approved a resolution which establishes a sustainable and healthy environment as a basic, universal right of all people. Over one hundred nations co-sponsored this resolution. The large co-sponsorship (unfortunately, the United States was not a co-sponsor) testifies to the strong support for this resolution among the UN delegates and their national governments. 

Because a livable human context is absolutely central to the continuing viability of creational life on our planet the United Nations’ vote placed this right at the core of our understanding of the longstanding human rights tradition, which includes social/political values such as freedom. This newly affirmed right is seen as standing at the very heart of that tradition. Its recognition and enhancement are not marginal but integral to the maintenance of the entirety of humanity and the universe with which we are intertwined. 

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Going Green is Tough Public Policy — by Deborah Levine

Editor’s note: Written 8 years ago but timely as ever.

Environmentalists may not be happy with some of the solutions to climate change.  In a recent article in Wired Magazine, “Inconvenient Truths: Get Ready to Rethink What It Means to Be Green”, the top 10 ways to save the planet are likely to drive environmentalists crazy. Calling for Greens to unite around the issue of greenhouse gasses, the article makes the case for public policies that favor nuclear energy and urban density. The outcry from readers was memorable as they criticized the single mindedness of the article, its lack of supporting data, its in-your-face sensationalism, and overall creepiness.   Yet, the discussion of climate change and public policy does and should raise these most difficult issues as new reports show irreversible damage.

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Environmental Justice: Apocalypse Now? – by Marc Brenman

The topic of environmental justice (EJ) has become popular. We find it expressed in President Biden’s equity program, for example. I’ve been working with a group of advocates on the topic for about twelve years. Before that I helped write one of the first EJ programs for a federal agency while at the US Department of Transportation in the late 1980’s. At the time I knew nothing about the issue. I mentioned my ignorance to Bob Bullard, one of the fathers of the concept. He told me to read his books. Now I’ve become an expert, with books and essays, including one on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005.

EJ has been overtaken by events, and today is sometimes called “environmental racism.” We now recognize the climate as a problem, and not as benign Mother Nature. EJ is the confluence of environmental issues with civil rights, resulting in health disparities for many people of color and low income people. They tend to live in lower marshy areas that are more subject to ocean level rise, flooding, and extreme storms. Even today, many lack air conditioning and are therefore more endangered by extreme heat. Many farmworkers live in rural towns in the West under extreme drought conditions. African-Americans own cars at the lowest level of any demographic group in the United States, and hence can’t escape in an evacuation order. Many African-Americans in Southern and Border states live near hog and chicken waste ponds and power stations and dumps that spew noxious fumes.

Continue reading Environmental Justice: Apocalypse Now? – by Marc Brenman

Greenpeace, Matriarchs, and Me — by Deborah Levine

GreenpeaceI’ve always included articles on the environment in the 15 years of the American Diversity Report.  When I considered doing an article on the iconic Greenpeace movement which started much of our environmental activism, I thought it would be an intellectual and historical project.  But,  my 93-year old Aunt Polly informed that Green-ness runs in the family,. Greenpeace is just a cousin away,  including one of the movement’s matriarchs.

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Climate Change and Global Cities – by the Rev. Dr. John Pawlikowski

The Chicago Council of Global Affairs brought 51 mayors & staff to Chicago to develop a flexible mayoral covenant on climate change within North America. The session in which I was a participant was led by the mayors of Chicago, Vancouver,Montreal, Washington and a modest size city of 150,000 in Mexico. NY TIMES writer Thomas Friedman chaired this session.
Allow me now to share some of the important points that arose from the discussion.

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Refugees: Are We Eating our Young? – by Deborah Levine

Islands at Risk

Refugee International reported a few years ago that a Kiribatian man tried to convince a New Zealand court to make him the world’s first climate change refugee. Kiribati is an impoverished group of Pacific islands vulnerable to rising sea levels.  He didn’t succeed, but many experts predict a growing number of displaced people seeking asylum because of global warming. The planet has limited drinkable water, fertile land, clean air, and food. The planet’s current supplies are steadily shrinking.

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Are Green Cities Symbols of Luxury? – by Ronny Agyei Yeboah

The term ‘green city’ or ‘sustainable city’ to many in the developing world is merely rhetoric of the affluent. The focus is often directed at exploiting our natural resource, creating more jobs, driving out extreme poverty, and improving standards of living of the masses with little concern for the environment. It’s not surprising that developing countries often battle International Environmental Agreements (IEAs) for special waivers when it comes to their implementations.

The premise that economic progress and environmental welfare are inversely related, at least during the initial stages of development, is being held by many policymakers in developing countries. Scientific hypotheses such as the Environmental Cruznes curve postulate a U-shape relationship between environmental welfare and economic growth: environmental damages increase in the initial stages of per capita income growth, attains stability and then starts declining. These ideas help explain why the concept of green cities is less appealing in the developing world. Therefore, there should be an in-depth probe to find out whether the ‘green city’ concept hinders economic progress.

Continue reading Are Green Cities Symbols of Luxury? – by Ronny Agyei Yeboah