Final answer:
Global environmental issues like global warming and biodiversity require international cooperation due to their cross-border impacts. Major international efforts include the formation of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Earth Summit's Convention on Biological Diversity. Collaboration, consumer awareness, and organizations like the United Nations and WTO are essential to addressing these challenges.
Step-by-step explanation:
Environmental issues have been at the forefront of global concern and have led to contentious debates and policy initiatives. Internationally, events such as the Exxon Valdez oil spill and the discovery of the stratospheric ozone layer hole over Antarctica have highlighted the need for collaboration on environmental protection. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change formation in 1988, and ongoing discussions about global warming, biodiversity, and energy policies reflect the complexity and urgency of these issues.
These environmental challenges extend beyond national borders, with global warming and preservation of biodiversity requiring international cooperation due to their nature as international externalities. The Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro and the Convention on Biological Diversity are pivotal examples of global efforts. Despite individual country initiatives, collaboration is essential since issues like carbon dioxide emissions and biodiversity conservation cannot be addressed by any single nation alone.
The United Nations and agreements such as those for climate change and the protection of biodiversity are testament to the increasing global consensus on the importance of environmental issues. The World Trade Organization (WTO) is also realizing the importance of balancing trade and environmental sustainability. Consumers are now more aware, with product labeling advocating for eco-friendly options, further supporting environmentalist values.