What are the advantages and disadvantages of globalization?

Encyclopedia of Opinion

Question: What are the advantages and disadvantages of globalization?
Position‹2 of 2: Globalization is bad
Argument‹5 of 5: Globalization destroys the environment

Globalization introduces an economic model that is incompatible with environmental protection.

The argument

Globalization results in increased international trade, lower prices and higher wages. These three factors create a higher demand for consumer goods. To meet this rising demand, manufacturers increase production, which involves the exploitation of more raw materials. This places a larger burden on the earth and its resources—for example, increased demand for timber results in deforestation in the Amazon. If we care about the environment, then we must consider the effects of globalization.

Context

Globalization increases global consumer demand. This sparks an increase in production to meet demand. Increased production means increased pressure on the environment and the faster depletion of natural resources.

Premises

[P1]Globalization increases international trade, lowers prices, and raises wages, all of which drive higher demand for consumer goods. [P2] Meeting that demand pushes manufacturers to increase production and exploit ever more raw materials. [P3] This burdens the earth's resources, as rising timber demand drives deforestation in the Amazon. [C] Therefore, because globalization destroys the environment, globalization is bad.

Counter-arguments

If globalization contributes to environmental degradation, then periods of deglobalization would coincide with periods of reduced environmental destruction. This is not what happens. Since 2008, the globe has been on deglobalization trend. Brexit, Donald Trump's trade war with China and opposition to multinational trade agreements are all indications of anti-globalization sentiment reflected in protectionist policy. But this period of protectionism has not coincided with a period of reduced environmental destruction.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P4] When globalization recedes, environmental degradation does not slow.