Definitions
Developing Countries: a country with little industrial and economic activity and where people generally have low incomes (Cambridge).
Economic growth: an increase in the total real output of goods and services in an economy over time. (Collins Dictionary of Business)
Environmental Protection: Policies and procedures aimed at conserving the natural resources, preserving the current state of natural environment and, where possible, reversing its degradation. (Business Dictionary)
Application: South Korea
In the 1960s, South Korea’s household annual income was below $500. They were extremely poor and knew they needed to get their country out of poverty. The South Korean government prioritized environmental protection by establishing policies which limit pollutants in the air and water before turning to economic growth. This decision to prioritize environmental protection resulted in at least 200 million people being lifted out of poverty. South Korea demonstrates the success of prioritizing environmental protection over economic growth in the real world.
Application: 900 Children Die Everyday
According to the UN and WHO, almost 900 million people currently lack access to safe drinking water. “Around 315,000 children under-five die every year from diarrhoeal diseases caused by dirty water and poor sanitation. That’s 900 children per day, or one child every two minutes.” This pollution and these deaths are directly linked to industrialization and economic growth (University of Karachi, Pakistan). I don’t see what good is money in a society where children die when they drink water.
Application: 1990 study of 11 Countries
A study by World Bank states in relation to developing countries, “policymakers who seek to reduce poverty should implement policies that enable their countries to achieve a higher rate of growth.” That being said, let’s look to when this has happened in the real world.
A flagship study by the Department of International Development in the 1990s of 11 developing countries found that “rapid and sustained growth is the single most important way to reduce poverty.” Out of 16 countries, these 11 countries sustained economic growth and reduced a significant amount of poverty, upholding the value of human welfare. As shown by this study, significant economic growth is the most effective way to reduce poverty. Therefore developing countries ought to prioritize economic growth over environmental protection.
Application: Singapore and South Korea
In the 1960s, Singapore and South Korea’s annual household income were all below $500. They were extremely poor countries but they knew they needed to get their country out of poverty. Instead of prioritizing environmental protection, they prioritized economic growth by encouraging industry and manufacturing through policies. These decisions resulted in at least 200 million people being lifted out of poverty, upholding the value of human welfare. Both of these countries demonstrate the success of prioritizing economic growth over environmental protection.
Application: Africa and Asia compared
According to the national bureau of economic research, Economic Growth was the main reason for 10s of millions of people getting out of poverty in Asia. While the lack of economic growth was the reasons for 10s of millions of people getting into poverty in Africa. Poverty kills 18,000,000 people every year. The impact is with economic growth we reduce poverty which will, in turn, help to save 18,000,000 people a year.
Application: Malaria & DDT
DDT is pesticide to kill the mosquitoes which are responsible for spreading malaria. According to UNICEF Malaria slows economic growth. DDT has proven to be extremely effective in combating malaria, for example as a result of the use of DDT in Sri Lanka, malaria cases went down from 2.8 million a year to 17 a year. In India, the number of deaths from malaria went from 800,000 to 0 as a direct result of DDT. However, in DDT has been banned because of environmental reasons.
In the 1980’s for example, Madagascar ceased its usage of DDT and immediately saw a massive spike in malaria cases, killing over 100,000 people. We can thus see how human lives are put in imminent danger by prioritizing the environment over human needs. In fact, by using DDT we have saved over 21 million lives.
Application: Chlorinated water
Economic growth strives for the production of products like DDT, but also for the production of products such as chlorinated water. Chlorinated water directly changes the existing water to be purified –it purifies water– thus not protecting the existing environment. Chlorinated water, because of its purification effects, is responsible for the saving of lives of 177,000,000 people. The impact of this is when we prioritize economic growth we are producing products like chlorinated water and saving millions of people’s lives.
Application: Indoor Pollution
Pollution in developing countries is often indoor pollution. This is caused by people burning fires indoors. In fact, 4.3 million people die of indoor pollution every year. The only way to fix indoor pollution is by providing electricity. Something that is solely provided by economic growth.
The impact is that with economic growth we can save 4.5 million people a year.
Application: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Bwindi is a beautiful national park in southern Uganda. Today, no one lives there, but not too long ago, Bwindi Forest was the home of communities of ‘pygmies’. When conservationists convinced the government to turn Bwindi into a national park, the pygmies were driven out at machine-gun point. One pygmy man said, “Since we were expelled from our lands, death is following us. We bury people nearly every day. The village is becoming empty. We are heading towards extinction. Now all the old people have died. Our culture is dying too.”
Application: Synthetic Fertilizer
Synthetic Fertilizer is a product that is being produced that hurts the environment because is causes some damage in ocean living organisms. Thus this is a perfect example of economic growth vs. environmental protection. Synthetic fertilizer, however, has saved 2.7 billion lives. Therefore by prioritizing the affirmative over the negative has saved 2.7 billion lives.
Application 1 Lead Paint
Lead paint was instituted because of economic growth in order to have better paint, but lead is terrible for the environment and According to the world health organization Lead exposure is estimated to account for 143 000 deaths per year with the highest burden in developing regions.
Application 2 Environmental Protection Protects Water
Water pollution causes 3.5 million deaths per year. This pollution and these deaths are directly linked to industrialization and economic growth (University of Karachi, Pakistan). I don’t see what good is money in a society where children die when they drink water.
Human rights violations like this should never happen, yet it happens everyday because developing countries prioritize economic growth over environmental protection. The best option for developing countries is to follow South Korea and prioritize environmental protection over economic growth.
Application: Cause of pollution is economic growth
According to World’s Worst Pollution Problems released by Blacksmith Institute and Green Cross Switzerland, “ Industrial and mining pollutants are putting at risk the health of at least 125 million people worldwide, especially those in the developing world, and have a higher health impact than some of the deadliest diseases like tuberculosis and malaria”.