GEOG World Geography- M06: Discussion 6
For this module, answer each of the following in your original post:
After reading Chapter 9, please respond to the following
South Asia’s population is likely to be more affected by global climate change than any other world realm. Do you agree or disagree? Explain.
After reading Chapter 10, please respond to the following:
East Asia is a huge, physically diverse region. In the past, the region has been split between two economic models. Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan practice a model of free-market capitalism. China, North Korea, and Mongolia practice a form of communism influenced by the [ex-]Soviet Union. What do you think are the most important and interesting changes NOW under way in East Asia? How do you see influence and power shifting in the region?
1. I agree that South Asia’s population is likely to be more affected by global climate change than any other world realm - South Asia is home to some of the world's countries most vulnerable to climate change. In the past decade alone, nearly 700 million people-- half of the region’s population-- were affected by one or more climate-related disasters. Now, changing weather patterns are expected to impact directly over 800 million people byb2050and will continue to burden South Asian countries’ economies. As rising global temperatures change the monsoon and cyclone patterns in South Asia, the impact on economic growth will only worsen. Altogether, the World Bank estimates that climate change could push 62 million South Asians below the extreme poverty line by 2030. This is a regional challenge, which requires a regional approach, to help support and inspire action. Also, energy demand will grow as much as 66 percent by 2040, predicts the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA). Coal alone will account for almost 40 percent of the increase as it overtakes cleaner-burning natural gas in the energy mix. That poses a risk to the Paris Climate Agreement’s goal of limiting the average global temperature gain to 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. Deforestation is another major source of greenhouse gases. In Indonesia and Malaysia, home to the world’s largest forestlands, trees are cut down to make way for farms to feed growing populations and for the production of pulp and paper and palm oil, which are big sources of export revenue. Deforestation accounts for almost half of Indonesia’s emissions—more than fossil fuels, though these are fast catching up.
2.
The re-emergence of Asia is among the most important shifts that will occur in our lifetimes. This year, in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms, Asian economies will become larger than the rest of the world combined for the first time since the 19th century. Not only is Asia growing richer; as it becomes more integrated, it is also coalescing as a constructive force for global governance. This emergence is timely. From climate change and demographic crises to technological disruption and yawning inequality, the world faces myriad challenges that require multilateral solutions.
East Asia is also bucking the global trend for trade fragmentation, becoming instead ever more economically integrated via trade, investment, and tourism. Previously, this happened from the grassroots up, without an overarching regional free trade agreement of the sort that spurred integration in Europe and North America.
Sources:
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/07/the-dawn-of-the-asian-century/ (Links to an external site.)
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