Do International Treaties need technology to be successful?

International treaties mixed with technological advances are the future of solving some of the planet’s gravest environmental problems. The Montreal Protocol, eventually ratified by 197 States, is a prime example of the combination of cooperation and innovation that is needed to solve a worldwide environmental issue. Many people believe that the key to solving these problems is having the technology to do so.

            The Montreal Protocol should be a guideline for future treaties. It took an environmental problem and found the appropriate and effective technology to quickly and efficiently solve it. The treaty is also effective because it took into consideration the need to make revisions in order to get more ratifiers. The treaty is sometimes known as a “universally ratified treaty,” which in terms of environmental problems is a great success and the answer to future problems.

            A debatable topic involved with the Montreal Protocol is the use of technology as a means for being the overall savior to the increasing size of the ozone hole. The Protocol may have been successful, but there is no question that the development of a replacement for chlorofluorocarbons known as HFC’s was what advanced the protocol to a universal success. The treaty was designed to phase out chlorofluorocarbons, but with most of the use happening in developed countries, the push for a substitute became a priority. It is clear that combination of factors needs to be in place to ensure a successful treaty, but in reality there have been little to no extremely successful ones other than the Montreal Protocol. 

            One of the biggest topics in the environmental world is that technology will be the answer to all of our problems. The planet continues to support more humans and continues to ignore some of the biggest issues facing environmental destruction. International environmental concern is usually done in broad terms, such as ozone depletion, climate change, desertification etc. The key to environmental treaties being successful is to focus on the smaller problems which lead to the bigger ones. Technology will inevitably assist in these localized problems.

            A prime example could be the increase in acid rain causing destruction to the world’s aquatic ecosystems. This would once again focus first and foremost on the developed nations, who produce most of the air pollution contributing to acid rain. A treaty following similar guidelines of the Montreal Protocol would encourage phases to reduce emissions (which have occurred in many countries) and continue to be revised as goals are met. The next step would incorporate the use of new technologies, which could be in the form of alternative energies or more efficient pollution catching devices. If there was technology that was an easy replacement for the countries to adopt, as was with Montreal, the problem known as acid rain would diminish quickly and efficiently. The ease and success of a treaty due to technological advances would make any State look foolish for not ratifying. Once the leading states followed the treaties, there would be no reason for it not to become another universal success amongst international treaties.

            Although, many humans consider technology to be the planet’s saving grace and the term ecological modernism is on the rise. There are disbelievers to every great idea. These environmentalists believe that technology and international cooperation alone will not be the answer to the greatest environmental problems, but only prolong the time we have before the greatest effects take place. Many conservationists believe this approach is not environmentally friendly at all, but a means for making human life more comfortable while covering up the truths. These environmentalists believe technology might even make matters worse, a good example is crop yielding. Technology allows us to grow and harvest more and more agriculture, which seems good until you incorporate all of the additional stressors it adds to the environment.

            International treaties will always be a tricky means of solving environmental problems, but the addition of technology has proven to be a very successful factor of solving problems on global scale. Although there is doubt, evidence of the Montreal Protocol shows that universal agreement and quick results are possible with the right factors and revisions to an international treaty. Technology is always changing and these changes will hopefully increase the likelihood of another universal agreement amongst the states of the world. Environmental problems happen on a global level and need to be taken into consideration before it’s too late.