Environmental Responsibility for All Nations

Developing nations have an obligation to use natural resources wisely as they seek to increase their economic well-being. Although this may sound like a “do as I do, not as I say” approach considering the damage done to forests and other natural resources as the US and Europe grew into the industrial and economic powers they are today, we must consider the differences between the world two hundred years ago and now. At the start of the Industrial Revolution in the mid-1700s, the world population was about 700 million. Today it is over 6.8 billion. According to the United Nations, in 2008 over 5.5 billion people lived in less developed regions. By 2050, global population is projected to be 9.3 billion with 86% living in less developed countries. Clearly, the resources available are far less than they were in the 18th Century, but the population is exponentially greater.


In the climate debate, industrialized nations should expect developing nations to use the best available technology to reduce pollution emissions. In return, the developing nations should receive technological assistance from industrialized nations. It creates a win-win situation. Pollutants do not respect lines drawn on a map. Consequently, it is in the industrialized nations’ best interest to give this type of assistance. At the same time, the world must hold developing nations accountable for their run-away population growth. They must strongly promote family planning policies that are in line with available resources.

Equity is a slippery slope. By requiring developing countries to bear the responsibility for their people and their contributions to pollution, we create a potential economic inequity. They have fewer resources and far larger populations than industrialized nations, yet they are asked to shoulder the burden of their needs and contribution to global pollution. However, if they are not held accountable, we run the risk of them never becoming accountable. We also must ask if it is equitable to ask the people of industrialized nations to bear the burden of fixing the problems of developing nations, which have existed as long, or longer, than they have. Once again, Hardin’s argument that overpopulation is the causative factor in poverty and degradation of resources becomes relevant.

If a nation, developing or industrialized, is unwilling to participate in reasonable pollution mitigation efforts, other nations can exert pressure through market-based approaches. Nations willing to participate should be rewarded through favorable trade policies. If the economics of pollution extend to the economics of trade, both industrialized and developing nations will find it more desirable to take the responsible route. This makes participation voluntary, but creates penalties for not cooperating.

Developing nations should expect industrialized nations to support their efforts through technology exchange. Furthermore, industrialized nations cannot expect to use developing nations as a dumping ground for “undesirable” industries. They must have standards for companies originating within their borders that establish factories in developing nations. These companies’ foreign interests should be subject to the same regulatory standards their US or European counterparts must follow.