Study guide: Climate Change, Globalization, and Geopolitics

Climate Change, Globalization, and Geopolitics - Revision Sheet

1. 📌 Essentials

• Climate change involves physical risks (disasters, warming) and transition risks (shift to green economy).
• Major emitters: US, China; 10% responsible for 50% of emissions.
• Natural capital (land, fisheries) is finite; climate impacts threaten yields and resources.
• Arctic melting opens new shipping routes and resource claims, increasing geopolitical tensions.
• Global supply chains (GVCs) rely on JIT, containerization, and risk spreading across borders. Maritime zones: territorial waters, EEZ (200 nautical miles), deep-sea zones like Clarion-Clipperton.
• Digital sovereignty is contested: Big Tech dominance, splinternet, Chinese Great Firewall, Russian Runet.
• EU GDPR (2018) and Digital Services Act (2023) regulate data privacy and platform accountability.
• Geopolitical hotspots: Arctic, South China Sea, cyber boundaries.
• Climate mitigation strategies: reduce fossil fuel use, improve efficiency, invest in renewables.

2. 🧩 Key Structures & Components

• Greenhouse gases (GHGs) — trap heat, cause global warming.
• Natural capital — land, forests, fisheries, finite and vulnerable.
• Supply chains (GVCs) — interconnected production networks spanning multiple countries.
• Shipping routes — Panama Canal, Suez Canal, Arctic passages.
• Maritime zones — territorial waters, EEZ, continental shelves.
• Big Tech companies — Google, Amazon, Meta, Apple; dominate digital economy.
• Chinese internet infrastructure — Great Firewall, censorship, surveillance.
• Russian Runet — sovereign internet law, data localization.
• EU regulations — GDPR, DSA for data and platform governance.
• Arctic sovereignty zones — EEZs, continental shelves, strategic control areas.

3. 🔬 Functions, Mechanisms & Relationships

• Climate change increases extreme weather, disrupts ecosystems, damages infrastructure.
• Transition risks: policy shifts, technological innovations, market changes reduce fossil fuel demand.
• Supply chains: JIT minimizes inventory but increases vulnerability to disruptions.
• Shipping & maritime zones:
  • Territorial waters (12 nautical miles)
  • EEZ (200 nautical miles): exclusive resource rights
  • Deep-sea zones: mineral-rich areas like Clarion-Clipperton
• Geopolitical tensions:
  • Arctic: sovereignty disputes over new routes/resources
  • South China Sea: territorial claims, artificial islands
• Digital sovereignty:
  • Big Tech’s influence shapes global information flow
  • Chinese and Russian controls restrict internet access and content
  • Splinternet: fragmentation of global internet due to nationalism/regulation
• Regulations:
  • GDPR enforces data privacy
  • DSA holds platforms accountable for illegal content and user safety
• Climate mitigation:
  • Reduce high-carbon consumption
  • Switch to renewable energy
  • Invest in carbon capture and green tech

4. Comparative Table

5. 🗂️ Hierarchical Diagram (ASCII)

Climate Change & Geopolitics
 ├─ Climate Risks
 │    ├─ Physical Disasters
 │    └─ Transition Risks
 ├─ Natural Capital
 │    ├─ Land & Forests
 │    └─ Fisheries & Resources
 ├─ Supply Chains
 │    ├─ GVCs & JIT
 │    └─ Risk Spreading
 ├─ Maritime Zones
 │    ├─ Territorial Waters
 │    ├─ EEZ
 │    └─ Deep-sea Resources
 └─ Digital Sovereignty
      ├─ Big Tech & Internet Control
      ├─ Chinese Firewall
      └─ Russian Runet

6. ⚠️ High-Yield Pitfalls & Confusions

• Confusing territorial waters with EEZ boundaries.
• Overestimating the stability of supply chains; JIT increases vulnerability.
• Misunderstanding the scope of the Arctic’s geopolitical importance.
• Assuming all digital regulation is uniform; GDPR vs. DSA vs. Chinese controls.
• Mistaking the causes of splinternet fragmentation; nationalism vs. technical reasons.
• Underestimating the impact of climate change on human health and migration.
• Overlooking the influence of fossil fuel reserves on geopolitics.
• Confusing the legal frameworks for land borders and maritime zones.

7. ✅ Final Exam Checklist

• Understand the difference between physical and transition climate risks.
• Recognize major emitters and their per capita emissions.
• Know the concept of natural capital and its depletion.
• Describe how supply chains operate and their vulnerabilities.
• Identify key maritime zones and their legal significance.
• Explain the concept of the splinternet and major actors.
• Summarize Chinese and Russian internet control strategies.
• Recall EU regulations: GDPR and DSA.
• Understand Arctic geopolitics and resource disputes.
• Be familiar with climate mitigation strategies and technologies.
• Recognize the geopolitical implications of melting ice and new shipping routes.
• Know the impact of infrastructure disruptions on global trade.
• Be aware of the role of fossil fuels in international conflicts.
• Understand the hierarchical organization of climate, trade, and digital systems.
• Be prepared to analyze cause-effect relationships between climate change and geopolitics.