Globalization, Environmental Justice, and Sustainable Development: The Case of Oil

Abstract

As globalization expands, poverty abounds, the environment suffers, and scientists warn of the devastation to come as earth's temperature rises. Likewise, the last century has seen a dramatic increase in the human lifespan and life comforts. People travel the world with ease and comfort - unimaginable even 60 years ago. Oil plays a pivotal role in these problems and accomplishments. However, oil consumption has dramatically damaged our environment. Power struggles over controlling oil threaten global security. This paper discusses the economics of oil in the context of globalization, environmental justice, and sustainable development. The paper analyzes policies that have resulted in oil's world dominance, and those policies needed to break oil's hold on the global economy.

Keywords: energy, environment, tax, oil