Sustainability and future economic development

There are three schools on environment protection. The first is based on  the economic and sanitary needs of the human being. This means that environmental legislation and policy frameworks were designed to protect economic and sanitary interest of humans. This school is called anthropocentric school.

 

The second school is eco-centric, based on the importance of looking for preservation and protection of all species and ecosystems.

 

The third school is holistic including all living beings and environment resources as well as their interaction.
 

Scientific progress in the study of Geography helped to expose the dangers posed by unsustainable exploitation of natural resources to human survival. It followed that  the United Nations produced Resolution 37/7 of 28 October 1982 to enforce protection of  any form of life, regardless of its economic and sanitary interest to humans.

 

However, countries such as the United States and China resist the idea of reducing their emissions of poisonous gases to protect their industry/economy. This may be interpreted as the USA and China adherence to the anthropocentric school of environmental protection. This is why no progress has been achieved in the different international negotiation rounds e.g. Kyoto and Rio +, on reduction of industrial gas emissions.

 

The most powerful and most polluting countries of the world  resist the idea of reducing poisonous gas emissions. These emissions adversely affect the ozone layer and cause climate change. It is unlikely that Least Developed Countries (LDC) will comply with emission reduction and enforce environment protection laws.   Moreover, a neoliberal agenda (modernization approach to development) is imposed by the developed countries to LDC. What kind of attitude toward environment protection can be expected from emerging countries, which may embark in industrialization as a form of development? They will probably emulate USA and China.

 

Resources: Ivy de Sousa Abreu & Elda Coelho de Azevedo Bussinguer at: www.derechoycambiosocial.com ISSN:2224-4131. Accessed 9/2/2014

Resources: Frances C. Moore. Toppling the Tripod: Sustainable Development, Constructive Ambiguity, and Environmental Challenge at: www.consiliencejournal.org/index.php/consilience/article/viewFile/.../58. Accessed 9/2/2014‎