Week 9 - International Trade, Population and Environmental Regulation

General Questions:

Do you think that the currently developing countries have the right to exploit forests (and other natural resources) as Europe and the United States did to increase their economic well being?

I believe that currently developing countries do have the right to exploit forests and other natural resources only to the extent at which it takes to sustain their own well being. It is the economic reasons that the United States used mass exploitation of natural resources for maximum profit. The excessive exploitation was the cause of much environmental degradation in the United States. Perhaps if the amount of exploitation was rationed our natural resources wouldn’t have been used so lavishly. It would be hard to ration the extent of exploitation of national recourses for developing countries, especially after the US exploited at such a high rate for economic gains. If we are supposed to lead by example, the United States have done a poor job. As a result, I think that currently developing countries may have the “right” to exploit forest to increase their economic well being. Yet, I am hopeful that they will not use these resources so hastily without thinking of the consequences.

What expectations do you think industrialized nations should have for developing nations in the climate change debate? Should equity between industrialized and developing countries be a goal in this debate?

I think that industrialized nations should have the expectations that developing nations will attempt to contribute to the reduction of emissions or will use some sort of regulation to reduce pollution. Equity is an unobtainable goal. However, because industrialized nations are now feeling the strains of the mass exploitation of natural resources, they should expect the developing nations to learn from the industrialization nation’s mistakes, and start incorporating environmental awareness in economic decisions.

What if a developing nation values economic development more than slowing down global warming? Should they be required to participate in reducing emissions?

It is inevitable that developing nations will value economic development more than slowing down global warming. This is due to the fact that education often has a correlation with income. The developing nations are usually less educated that those industrialized nations. Although their priorities may be economic development, I do believe that they should be required to participate in reducing emissions. Emission reduction should be a national attempt. Due to the fact that industrialized nations produce more waste and pollutants than currently developing nations; perhaps it is rational that developing nations should have to meet standards less rigid than those that are set in placed for the more wealthy nations.

Conversely, what expectations should developing nations have for industrialized nations?

Because education is a main reason that the poor are less likely to participate in environmental programs, I believe that the developing nations should have the expectation for industrialized nations to educate them in ways to become more environmentally conscious. In addition, they should expect industrialized nations to provide aid to help start environmental programs or associations.