There’s an unmistakable link between poverty and sustainability. While poorer countries consume far less resources than developed countries, they often place a heavy hand on the environment. The environmental impact comes in the form of unregulated environmental exploitation by businesses as well as the destruction of forests for subsistence.
While developed countries largely overcame poverty by exploiting their natural resources, this option is no longer viable for under-developed countries because the world is at an ecological tipping point. Getting a handle on poverty needs to come with a strong focus on sustainability, and a promotion of solutions that benefit disadvantaged populations while helping the environment.
The UN-promoted idea of carbon cap and trade that pays undeveloped countries not to deforest their land in exchange for payment from companies and countries that run at a carbon deficit, is one means for more equitable exchange. This example puts a monetary value on environmental services and acknowledges the natural resource wealth of poorer countries without exploiting those resources in an unsustainable way.
It’s clear that the global economy needs to have a more direct connection to the stability of our planet. The mass consumption of goods by the developed world that has fueled economic growth is now broken. A new economy that’s driven by what’s best for our planet must emerge. And as this reshuffling of priorities occurs, we must look to the contribution of developing countries to adequately compensate them while cushioning them from the dangers of ecological collapse.
