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The relationship between economic development and environmental protection
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There are those individuals who are of the view that the environment should take precedence over any proposed economic developmental projects because of its necessity to human survival. On the other hand, there are those who believe it should be the other way around, because if a country is not economically feasible, then it won’t be able to survive and protect its environment. The controversial issue or question at hand is whether environmental concerns should outweigh economic advantages when approval is being considered for projects in developing countries?
There are those that believe that developing countries are too weak economically to comply with environmental concerns. Therefore, they believe that proposed economic development projects should take precedence over the environment. Economist, Ronald Mason (2014) in his article titled ‘Screeching Environmentalists’ “believes that developing countries are plagued by rampant poverty, and as such do not have the resources for their people to be able to prosper while protecting the environment” (p.A9).
To validate his claim he described a poverty stricken situation in which he witnessed, after he was taken to the slums of Kingston by a past employee of the Kingston Harbour. According to Mason (2014), what brought tears to his eyes was the living conditions, “ zinc sheets tattered and rusty, pans filled with dirt for bed posts, pallet boards nailed for bed frame and bags stuffed with grass for mattress on a dirt floor”(p.A9).
It is because of poverty stricken situations like this why Mr. Mason is taking the stance that developing countries cannot afford to miss out on economic investments because of the low standard of living that exists. This view has particular merit wit...
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... to play in the sustainability of humanity.
Works Cited
Cummings. (2013, November 10). Climate change, Goat Islands…and a few lizards. The Sunday Gleaner, pp. F9.
Espeut. (2014,January 5). It’s going to be a tough year. The Sunday Gleaner, pp. F7.
Hammill, A., & Matthew, R. (2009). Sustainable Development and Climate Change. Royal Institute of International Affairs, 85 (6), 1117-1128.
Jackson, A. (2014, March 2). Logistics hub: economic development or dependence. The Sunday Gleaner, pp. F10.
Mason, R. (2014, March 2).Screeching Environmentalists. The Sunday Gleaner, pp. A9.
McLauren, K. & Wilson, B. (2013, August 20). Should the Environment lose every time? The Jamaica Gleaner, pp. A5.
Stern, D. (1996). Economic Growth and Environmental Degradation: The Environment Kuznets Curve and Sustainable Development. World Development, 24 (7), 1115-11160.
In the developing wold, both population and economy depend on the environment. Nowadays, climate changes and other environmental problems have a huge impact in the developing world.
“An introduction to climate change.” Natural Resource Defense Council. Natural Resources Defense Council 8 November 2015 n. pag. Web. 28 November 2015.
Withgott, J., & Brennan, S. (2011). Environment: the science behind the stories (4th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Pearson Benjamin Cummings.
The manner by which the environment is being harmed is much different now than it was in the 1400's. Production byproducts rather than the actual production are the cause of current environmental degradation. However, economic analysis has proven that environmental protection is a normal good. A normal good or service in economic terms means that the demand for such items increases as income increases. As such, for the sake of the poor as well as the environment, policy makers with the aim of environmental protection should also consider their effects on the resulting, generally decreased level of production.
Jamaica is known for beautiful scenic beaches, waterways, forests, and mountains. Many of these are facing environmental issues. These environmental issues are deforestation, water pollution, coral reef damage, and air pollution in Jamaica’s capital city of Kingston (CNO, 2013). The main reason for these environmental issues is a result of the rapid growth of the Jamaican population, urbanization, and tourism.
In traditional opinions, environmental protection and economic growth are mutually contradictory. Economic growth is a high environmental cost, and protecting the environment will limit the economic growth. The reason of contradiction stems from the inappropriate understandings among development, economic growth and environmental protection. In fact, economic growth could have a harmonious relationship with environmental protection.
“…increasing international trade and financial flows since the Second World War have fostered sustained economic growth over the long term in the world’s high-income states. Some with idle incomes have prospered as well, but low-income economies generally have not made significant gains. The growing world economy has not produced balanced, healthy economic growth in the poorer states. Instead, the cycle of underdevelopment more aptly describes their plight. In the context of weak economies, the negative effects of international trade and foreign investments have been devastating. Issues of trade and currency values preoccupy the economic policies of states with low-income economies even more than those with high incomes because the downturns are far more debilitating.1”
A few years ago, Time magazine published a special issue entitled "The Century's Greatest Minds." It was the fourth in a Time series on the 100 most influential people of the century, this particular issue focusing on "Scientists and Thinkers." On the cover, Albert Einstein is pictured on a psychiatrist's couch, hands crossed over his chest, a depressed look cloaking his face. Dr. Sigmund Freud, seated in a chair near the couch, pen and pad in hand, is leaning in toward Einstein, excitedly waiting to perform some bit of psychoanalysis on the saddened scientist. A framed picture of Jonas Salk rests on the side table; a portrait of John Maynard Keynes hangs from a nail in the wall. In the background, resting atop a bookshelf, is a stone bust of Rachel Carson, author of Silent Spring. She finds herself in quite excellent company not only on the cover, but in the interior of the magazine as well.
Williams, Laurence O. An End to Global Warming. Ohio: Pergamno, 2012. Web 13 May 2015
Ayres (2008) advances the concept of ‘sustainability economics’, which deals with the issue of maintaining economic growth while paying special attention to environmental concerns of energy utilization and resource exhaustion, especially carbon fuel consumption and its relation to climate change.
Hardy, J. T. Climate Change: Causes, Effects, and Solutions. New York: J. Wiley, 2003. Print.
Economic growth also play a role in reducing debt to GDP ratios. Therefore, money can be spent on protecting the environment. With higher real GDP a society can dedicate more resources to promoting recycling and the utilization of renewable resources investment. Economic growth encourages investment and therefore encourages a virtuous cycle of economic growth.
‘Development that meets the needs of the present with the ability for the future generation to meet their own needs.’ (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987) Sustainable development requires three key components: economy, society and environment, sustainable development can be success through striking balance in those factors. These three components are indispensible, they compel to depend on each other. On the other words, we can only gain a decent and energetic environment and society if the economy is strong with a healthy a stable growth rate.
Is it right that future generations, who have committed no crimes, be forced to live in a contaminated environment with freshwater depletion, polluted air, global warming and biodiversity reduction just because our present generation has caused the damage? Should our future children be ensured an ecologically healthy environment? I think they should. I strongly believe that protecting the environment is extremely important. We are all part of the environment; Earth is what we all share in common. It is our home and we are obliged to preserve it. As someone who is aware, who cares and who is concerned, I’d like to help you understand why protecting our environment is vital. I believe that protecting the environment is essential for healthy living, in creating a healthful environment for our future generation and last but not least, the Earth is our one and only home.
As quoted by United Nations Environment Programme, “A green economy is one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities (UNEP 2010). Grounded in the Rio+20 outcome, the United Nations system views green economy as a means for achieving sustainable development and eradicating poverty. The World Bank, also promoting the green economy, says, “Natural capital accounting would add to our national GDPs the wealth stored in our natural resources: minerals before they are mined, forests before they are felled, water while it is still in the rivers.” In more simple words, green economy can be seen as a means to achieve a resilient economy that provides a better quality of life for all within the ecological limits of the planet. It can be also seen as a means to link the economic, environmental and social considerations of sustainable development in such a manner that long-term