Topic 1: Asia should prioritise economic growth for the

present and address the cost of environmental damage in

the future. To what extent do you agree with this
statement?

Introduction
Although it is believed that we should focus on economic growth, Asia's emerging
countries are challenged with major environmental issues that endanger future growth,
agriculture, and regional security (Howes and Wyrwoll, 2012). This essay will show the
reason why Asian national leaders should prioritize environmental problems instead of
economic expansion.

Background & Definitions

Due to Covid-19, the growth of economics in Asia has been stalled and even
experienced negative trend. Research show that, almost half of the Asia-Pacific nations
have the economics growth lower than the forecast growth of the World in 2020, which
is about 4,4% (IMF, 2020). Moreover, almost Asia’s countries will face off recovery
indicators less than the average of global from the economic slump (UNESCAP, 2020).
In 5400 special economic zones over the world, there are 4000 in Asia ‘s developing
countries (UNCTAD, 2019). This means that Asia should encourage their national
members to improve the economic status, in order to keep up with the developed
countries in Europe or North America.
Air pollution in specific and pollution, in general, have a great negative impact on every
aspect of Asian countries. Thanks to Covid-19, an optimistic way to deal with this
problem has been pointed out, which is air quality restriction (Kanniah et al, 2020).
Although it is a challenge for any nation, solving these environmental problems can
improve people's life.

First argument
In all countries which have an industrializing process, especially developing ones in
Asia, pollution is inevitable. The emission can come from many kinds of forms:
transportation, household fuel usage, or even coal power plant (WHO, 2018). Pollution,
in general, has a great negative impact on human health, and therefore the economy as
well can not improve. A study shows that air pollution cut down the lifespan of Indian up
to 6 years, and for Chinese is 2,6 years, recently. Consequently, people tend to focus
more on their health by spending more of the expenditure on medical services,
insurance,… so that the spending for economic like investment or import/export may
drop significantly (WHO, 2019). For this reason, if Asian countries just prioritize
expanding the economy only, they will face the counter effect even before the growth
reach prediction.

Second argument
While improving the economy, it is possible that national leaders in Asia can get along
with environmental protection. According to Asian Development Bank, they have
supported financially the developing members, not for them to enhance the economy
but for reserve diversity and natural resources (ADB, 2021). They believe that to
improve human well-being focus on female and other groups which is vulnerable and
especially grow the economy, natural capital is needed. Moreover, ADB has transferred
its technology of eco-friendly and biodiversity design in infrastructure work out to the
national members. One of the typical examples is Green Infrastructure Design for
Transport Projects, this publication has an influence on the ecological rail and railway
designs, or adding in available transportation as well. The project has reinforced
the G20 Principles for Quality Infrastructure Investment, which target to optimize the
positive economic, social, and also the environment (ADB, 2021).

Third argument
Environment crises do have an impact on the economy of the whole of Asia. As the
climate is changing too fast, which economic growth accounts for large responsibility,
the cost of ignorance is not small either. A study shows that a 2% loss in GDP is to
cover natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, … Moreover, up to tens of billions of
dollars has been estimated to solve health problems related to climate emergencies
(Joseph Stiglitz, 2019). Besides, due to Covid-19, 80 million Asians were fall into great
poverty unexpectedly, arisen in the unemployment rate and a reduction in working
hours (Sara Jerving, 2021). All these factors have an extremely negative influence on
the economy in general and it can be worse if there is no environmental protection
along with growing the economy.

Argument against third position

It is undeniable that Covid-19 has made the Asia economy fall so that governments
should associate with each other to recover the wealth. With a large number of
developing and poor countries, Asia has to deal with a low recovery rate, which is
expected to be lower than the global average of about 5.2% (UNESCAP, 2021). So
instead of taking up too many duties on the environment, nations can minimize it to the
least and focus more on economic growth. Despite some challenges, the potential for
recovery is still great. For example, ASEAN has increased 3% the import rate from
China by 15% and this has exceeded Europe, making us be the largest partner for the
first time (Choi et al, 2021). As the result, it is necessary to recover and improve the
economy as the post-pandemic.

Response to counterargument
Rehabilitation after a pandemic is needed, however, focusing on a growing economy
only is not optimal. Asian countries have a huge potential in sustainable recovery,
according to International Energy Agency, Asia will be leading the renewable energy
investment rather than Europe or North America and accounting for up to 60% of
renewable capacity in the future. More and more countries have net-zero emission in
their laws and from 33 companies with a reduction emission policy, the number now is
over 170 (Choi et al, 2021). These reasons mean that the pandemic has raised the
awareness of any nation about environmental concerns along with economic growth,
although it takes more effort and time to take over two fields, it is indispensable.

Fourth argument
Economic growth can come from many areas like industry, export,… and especially
ecotourism. Tourism accounts for 10% of the GPD general before the pandemic, and in
some countries, for example, Thailand, this number can be up to 20% (John Power,
2021). The recent years, the deregulation of aviation in Asia and the rising of new airline
companies have made the economy in general and tourism in specific grown. In 2000,
Malaysia‘s Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism with WWF have successfully hold
activities in rainforests, rivers, and offshore islands. Moreover, some countries which do
not have available resources also try to develop alternative ecotourism like Laos or
Nepal, to reduce poverty and create employment in some areas (Cochrane, J., 2007).

Argument against fourth position

A response to this is that there are 203 million poor people in Asia in 2017, or 5.2%
population, and this percentage is 2.6% before the pandemic. Due to Covid-19, the
number increase by 80 million and 20% unemployment (Sara Jerving, 2021). These
number is emergency and need improvement in the economy. The study shows that the
Bloomberg Innovation Index of Korea is placed at the first position, the Japanese
government spends a 90 billion USD fund to recover post-pandemic, the ability of
production enhancement in China is positive and predicted to be a success in 5 years
(Choi et al, 2021). The recovery spirit in Asia is extreme due to a large number of young
labor and new technology, it is understandable to let Asia be back before pandemic
than the address on the environment.

Conclusion
It is undeniable that economic growth is needed for the whole of Asia, especially
developing ones, however, environmental issues are more emergent, and we have to
solve them as soon as possible. After the spread of Covid-19, we are more aware of the
environment and its impact on daily life and also the economy.
Reference list

ADB, 2021. ADB's Support for Environmental Sustainability

Arman, Hermouet, Dayyan, Perkins, Wai, Nam, … , Jansen (2021). Asia and the Pacific
SDG Progress Report 2021

Cochrane, J. (2007). Ecotourism and. Critical Issues in Ecotourism, 287.

John Power, 2021. Collapse of tourism cost five Asian nations 1.6 million jobs: UN

Kanniah, K. D., Zaman, N. A. F. K., Kaskaoutis, D. G., & Latif, M. T. (2020). COVID-19's
impact on the atmospheric environment in the Southeast Asia region. Science of the
Total Environment, 736, 139658.

Reuters Staff, 2021. Has COVID-19 stopped Asia-Pacific from reaching its global
development goals? Experts explain.

Sara Jerving, 2021. Extreme poverty rose by 80 million in Asia and Pacific due to
COVID-19.

Stephen Howes and Paul Wyrwoll, 2012. Asia’s Wicked Environmental problems.

UNU-WIDER, 2020. A snapshot of poverty and inequality in Asia.

WHO, 2018. Air pollution in the South-East Asia Region.

WHO, 2019. Countries are spending more on health, but people are still paying too
much out of their own pockets.

Wonsik Choi, Jeongmin Seong, Oliver Tonby, and Jonathan Woetzel, 2021. Five
windows of opportunity for postpandemic Asia.