The Costs of Economic Growth on the Environment
(463 Words)
Economic growth has a variety of effects on the environment. Unfortunately, much of it is negative. It is important for people to be aware of the way growth in the economy can affect the environment so that they can control the extent to which damage occurs.
Exploitation of natural resources
Economic growth often requires raw ingredients, which come from nature. Sometimes these are exploited to an unhealthy extent. For instance, companies may perform strip mining to reach minerals under the earth. They may farm the land in an irresponsible way that strips it of its nutrients instead of allowing for sustainability. They may take more ingredients than are being produced, leading to an eventual loss of the resource.
Unfortunately, even companies from countries with strict regulations such as the United States can do damage to the environment in other areas of the world. Some will outsource work or products to other areas because it is cheaper or because there is less regulation. Their factories may harm the environment without the watchful eye of government regulation.
Loss of natural areas
As economic growth occurs, natural areas are often the victims. Companies may need to clear away pristine lands in order to make room for factories, roads, buildings and other products of growth. The loss of natural areas can upset the balance of the entire ecosystem. Animals may be displaced and even become extinct. Natural resources may disappear, even those with unknown and important potential.
Pollution
Economic growth is often accompanied by pollution. Even relatively clean factories operating under regulations will usually produce some waste materials. These may affect the environment through the land, air and water. Pollution will often do much more damage than is anticipated, especially if some sort of accident occurs.
Pollution can also come from the new products that people can now attain because of economic growth. For instance, more individuals might purchase cars when their country sustains economic growth. Prior to that they may have used cleaner forms of transportation such as walking, bicycle riding or public transportation. With more cars will be more pollution.
Positive effects
Economic growth is not all negative when it comes to the environment. As more individuals emerge into positive economic situations, they may have money to dedicate to different causes. These include those that are environmental. Education about the environment may spread, and people may make efforts to help areas that are even beyond the borders of their homelands.
Money is a powerful entity, and many individuals and companies will do whatever it takes to increase the bottom line, even if environmental consequences are the result. It is important for individuals, businesses and government entities to monitor the effect that economic growth has on the environment to help sustain Mother Nature.
Resources:
http://articles.cnn.com/2007-06-04/tech/china.environment_1_greenhouse-gas-climate-change-pollution?_s=PM:TECH
http://www.gallup.com/poll/15820/public-priorities-environment-vs-economic-growth.aspx