For many years, modernization was believed to have considerable beneficial impact all over

the world. Modernization is a notion that applies to a variety of concepts, but generally speaking,
Kumar (2023) defined it as the process through which ‘’rural’’ or agricultural areas are developed into
‘’urban, industrial’’ ones. It typically refers to the notion that traditional or primitive communities
transformed and need to develop into contemporary ones. Also, it deals with the process by which
individuals adapt and adhere to contemporary ideas or ways of living based solely on scientific
advancements, such as establishing industries in rural areas or developing technologies; thus, people
may keep up. Land use conversion (LUC), which involves transforming the traditional use of
agricultural land towards non-agricultural purposes like housing properties, businesses, or
manufacturing facilities (Fulgar, 2021), is one process that falls under the umbrella of modernization.
The positive and negative effects of the initiative must be examined further to determine whether or
not this method is morally acceptable. Although land use conversion of agricultural lands has
been shown to offer good outcomes, it has more negative consequences; thus, this initiative is
not morally justifiable based on Foot’s three conditions in the doctrine of double effect.
Land use conversion can result in specific beneficial implications. By facilitating access to
employment, merchandise, services, and resources, the construction of infrastructure or industries
using agricultural lands, such as malls or commercial spaces, can boost economic growth. Most
agricultural land is located in rural areas. According to research by Siddiq et al. (2019),
industrialization in such regions could increase rural incomes, broaden job opportunities in rural areas,
and enhance regional growth. For instance, consider building an enormous garments manufacturing
facility in a remote location due to the significant demand for clothes. Due to the increased demand
for manufactured products, ordinary individuals from rural areas could succeed as factory workers or
employees of companies that supplied the factories, which are jobs that earned higher earnings than
those in the agricultural sector (Rafferty, n.d.). A study by Puerta et al. in 2018 claimed that a further
factor is that 80% of the poorest people in the world work in jobs with relatively poor productivity as
they reside in rural regions. Having said that, converting land usage into enterprises, companies, or
industrial facilities can create new job possibilities, significantly reducing poverty (Barretto, 2023).
This increases the number of goods that individuals may purchase at affordable prices because large-
scale manufacturing has reduced the cost of necessities like clothing, tools, and other products,
allowing people to save money (Rafferty, n.d). Also, increasing tourism is one of the factors
contributing to economic growth. Making the land available for other purposes, such as for
amusement park infrastructure, might improve the area's "aesthetic attractiveness." As a result,
"beautification" aids in the expansion of tourism businesses by drawing in more tourists, generating
favorable popularity exposure, producing a welcoming and appealing atmosphere, and fostering a
sense of civic pride (Tarlow, 2022). Since it generates jobs, boosts regional economies, helps build
infrastructure, and assists in preserving heritage sites and customs, this tourism can greatly benefit
emerging economies by lowering poverty and inequality in rural regions (Manzoor et al., 2019).
Furthermore, utilizing agricultural land for residential use is also a positive result since it allows for
the construction of additional homes that can accommodate more people.
On the other hand, land use conversion has adverse impacts, particularly on the
environment. The conversion of agricultural land into industrial purposes or facilities is one example
of this. As a result of this process, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly carbon dioxide,
increase significantly, aggravating climate change and global warming. Since the beginning of the
Industrial Revolution, human activities, notably the worldwide carbon emissions from fossil fuels,
have increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) by around 50%, bringing it to 150% of its amounts
in 1750 (NASA Global Climate Change, 2023). These human-caused events, such as industrial
operations, intensify the greenhouse effect and lead to climate change because the combustion of
fossil fuels creates vast volumes of carbon dioxide, accumulating heat in our atmosphere (Nunez,
2019). This is because the usage of fossil fuels as an energy source and the chemical procedures
required for generating things from raw materials contribute significantly to GHG emissions from
manufacturing facilities. As Leah Guerrero stated in the FEU Public Intellectual Lecture Series,
wealthy, highly industrialized countries and fossil fuel industries are historically to blame for the
climate crisis (FEU Academics, 2020a). Thus, modifying the way land is used might result in the
atmosphere being exposed to such gasses. According to research by Huang et al. (2023), transforming
agricultural land to other uses can dramatically increase global GHG emissions, which worsens air
quality and directly affects climate change. Land use conversion also contributes to the depletion of
natural resources, which is detrimental to the environment. It is crucial to note that converting
agricultural farms and forests into urban or modern developments limits the land used to grow food
and obtain raw materials, such as wood (Wu, n.d.). This will reduce vegetation or the resources
necessary to provide food security, negatively affecting both humans and the ecological balance.
More significantly, as deforestation is one method in converting agricultural land for other uses, it
destroys biodiversity by causing many species of wildlife to lose their habitats and become extinct due
to a lack of sustenance (Semenchuk et al., 2022; World Wildlife Fund, n.d.). Additionally, because it
may result in pollution, land use shifts can adversely impact the environment's biological processes.
Any conversion—from illegal logging, industrialization, or urbanization—increases erosion because
road construction disrupts the soil and ground cover (University of California Press, n.d.). Thus, soil
pollution results from the significant impact that land use modification has on various soil properties
(Korkanc et al., 2008). Moreover, it can elevate emissions of airborne contaminants into the
atmosphere, resulting in air pollution (Chen et al., 2019), which has repercussions not just on the
environment but also on human health.
According to Foot's three criteria in the concept of double effect, this initiative is not morally
acceptable based on the above list of favorable and unfavorable consequences of altering land use.
The notion of double effect, as defined by Foot (1967a), holds that an action may result in two effects:
the one intended and the one expected but not desired. It establishes three conditions that must be met
to declare a course of action morally justified. According to the first requirement, the agent did not
directly intend, although foreseen, for the bad consequences to occur (Foot, 1967b). Land use
conversion, however, is ethically unjustifiable since it intentionally produces negative results, such as
the effects stated above. The current problem of farmlands or forests being illegally converted into
residential or commercial purposes via deforestation in the Philippines is one illustration of this. The
Philippines' forests are home to some of the world's richest biomes, but over the past several decades,
the country's forest cover has shrunk to less than 10% of what it once was, with just a small portion
being old-growth forest (Comiso et al., 2020). Deforestation happens mainly to make room for the
growth of metropolitan areas, including urban settlements, businesses, and energy facilities, among
others, which have a significant negative influence on biodiversity life and the environment at large
(Philippine Clearing House Mechanism, n.d.). Even though people know the crucial role forests play
in combating climate change and managing it by preserving their ecological functions and offering
plausible solutions (Philippine Clearing House Mechanism, n.d.), deforestation is still a problem in
the country, and human activity is the primary cause behind it. That said, those who abuse the forests
to construct industries or other commercial spaces as they repeatedly convert lands into non-
agricultural purposes are responsible for the adverse effects of land use conversion through
deforestation, such as climate change, degradation of biodiversity, disruption of the ecosystem,
depletion of natural resources, and pollution. They do these things even though they are illegal and
only permitted under particular circumstances. They are very much aware of the long-term negative
consequences, yet they still do it; therefore, they intend these effects. As such, applying Foot’s first
condition, this initiative is not morally permissible. In addition, since this initiative satisfies the
second criterion, which stipulates that the beneficial impact does not result from the harmful effect
(Foot, 1967c), land use conversion is ethically acceptable if this is the only need. The first and third
conditions of Foot have not been met, though. The third criterion stipulates that for an act to be
morally allowed, the positive impacts must exceed the negative ones (Foot, 1976d). The adverse
effects outweigh the positive ones because, even though creating more jobs will help the local
population's living conditions, there are still issues that are hardly brought up, such as the worsening
carbon emissions brought on by land conversion that may harm residents' health. According to the
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (2022), climate change can impact human health
by altering the intensity, length, or extent of health issues and posing new, unexpected, or unforeseen
risks to people or locations. Another issue is the lack of sustainability in the region, which has its
roots in powerful businesses that manipulate people into giving up their land as it is for the
"betterment" of everyone. Agricultural lands or forests are being exploited for commercial spaces,
industries, or structures rather than obtaining assistance from the government and authorized sectors
to extend the vegetation range and improve the available food resources they can generate. Moreover,
because land use conversion results in the decline of natural resources, notably food, many people
would experience food insecurity, creating several health issues. A person is considered to be food
insecure when they do not regularly have access to enough safe and nourishing food for proper
growth and development, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
(n.d.). Furthermore, failing to recognize the need to protect agricultural areas results in concerns with
quality livelihood. The simple fact that not every person in a rural location can work in an industry
profession is an example since most of their skills, capacities, and especially their culture are firmly
imprinted in refining and conserving their agricultural knowledge. Thus, the negative impacts exceed
the positive ones in all cases. Land conversion is not ethically acceptable since this requirement is not
satisfied.
In conclusion, in light of Foot's three prerequisites in the concept of double effect, it may be
claimed that land use conversion, a form of modernization, is not morally justifiable. It provides
advantages, including the ability to create employment opportunities, foster tourism, which spurs
economic growth, and build additional housing to accommodate more people due to population
growth. However, bad effects, such as its contribution to carbon emissions, depletion of natural
resources, and pollution, also result. However, negative consequences also arise, including pollution,
scarcity of resources, destruction of biodiversity, disruption of the ecosystem, and contribution to
carbon emissions. Thus, land use conversion is not ethically acceptable since it does not satisfy the
first and third conditions of Foot. Therefore, I urge individuals to take action to halt this process since
it harms the earth. As Leah Guerrero stated, there are things that a person can do to live more
sustainably, but beyond that, collective action is required as a response to the demand for
environmental justice on a larger scale. (FEU Academics, 2020b).

.
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