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.

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