Economy versus Environment? They have become enemies in recent years.
However, both
are important
Most of us care more about our standard of
living than we do about the health of some
species we seldom if ever see
Most of us care more about our own welfare
than we do about the welfare of people living
three four or five generations hence
Environmental issues have faded from the
view of politicians because of the economic
recessions – no funds to finance
environmental projects. This also shows that
people tend to think that protecting the
environment represents spending money
rather then saving it. In recession the usual
attitude shifts to promoting economic
prosperity
Taking care of millions of people who are
starving is more important than saving
natural resources. Developing nations cannot
share the green concerns of developed
countries
Economic progress could give milions a
better life
Rapid industrialization does not necessary
put pressure ont he environment: scientific
advances made industries less polluting.
Developing countries can learn from the
environmental mistakes made by the
developed countries
Economic activity relates to the environment
in two fundamental ways: it uses the
resources (both renewable and non-
renewable) from the environment and also
emits waste into the environment int he
process of producing and consuming
We should not think and act as if we are not
part of nature we need to protect our re-
newable resources (forests, fisheries,
agricultural lands) Our prosperity depends on
protecting the extracting potential and also
the waste absorption capacity
Sustainable economy: not producing more
items but better ones. People don’t want
more things, they want better things.
WE should make more use of renewable
energy sources : solar, wind and
hydroelectric power. These do not harm the
environment but contribute to production
Sustainable development combines
environmenatl care and economic growth.
Earth cannot support unrestricted growth
Nations are losing more for pollution than
they are gaining from industrialization:
Example China – 20 years of uncontrolled
economic development created serious air
and water pollution. This has increased
health problems and resulted in losses to
farmers. Uncontrolled economic growth is
bad for the environment and does not make
economic sense.
Scientific progress made people too
confident in their abilities to control their
environment
The nuclear power industry cannot store its
waste safely . hydro-power sounds great but
creating dams on rivers damages the
environment, and it also forces people off
their lands.