Greening the Developing World: A Fair or Realistic Expectation?
It is a truism that the character in Chinese for “crisis” is the same as that for “opportunity.” Truism, because apparently, it’s false, but true in its accurate description of certain sets of circumstances. It is a truism that James Fallows adheres himself to in a recent article in the Atlantic regarding the Chinese environmental crisis. What Fallows seems to be saying, is that the environment is so bad in China due to the country’s meteoric industrial ascension, that green minded improvements and innovations there could have more impact there than anywhere else. Although Fallows’ goal is to provide some optimism, the challenges posed by China’s environmental disintegration, are formidable. But how can the industrial rise of developing countries be managed without a concomitant decrease in environmental conditions? Is it hypocritical for the first world to expect these reforms?
Kishore Mahbubani believes it is the prerogative of the entire globe to go green, but believes that the West needs to acknowledge and remedy the stock of greenhouse gasses it has emitted since the beginning of the industrial revolution.
Graham Hill, understands how developing countries could be dissatisfied with Western suggestions of change, and urges a focus on incremental, individual change.
Sebastian Copeland says a sense of environmental responsibility in developing countries will hinge upon that very same sense developing and being acted upon in the first world.
