People are divided on the role of economic development. Some opine that it is essential in addressing poverty whereas others say that it should be stopped as it is causing irreversible damage to the environment. This essay intends to analyze both perspectives. I personally believe that both arguments have weightage as poverty has to be mitigated, but saving the environment is also equally important. So, we have to look into methods of sustainable economic development. Stopping economic development is not the way out.
It is irrefutable that by the development of economy people can improve their quality of life. For example, in developed countries even the poorest of the poor has the basic amenities of life such as food, clothing and shelter. All the citizens enjoy high level of social welfare and they enjoy free medical care and free education. Even in countries like India and China, International Companies have created many jobs and as a result, economic development has accelerated even further.
However, it is also true that in our quest for development and becoming richer, we have harmed some of our environment. Most of the things we use require some kind of energy to manufacture, operate and maintain. Disposing-off these things is very difficult too. Most of the energy that we use is polluting the environment. Renewable energy forms a very small part of what is used on a significant scale. Effluents from large factories are being dumped indiscriminately and landfill sites are filling up with non-biodegradable wastes. All this is being done in the name of progress.
Looking at both arguments, it is clear that with economic development, the damage to the environment is inevitable. But, we cannot put a halt on economic progress because the status of the underprivileged has to be improved. Therefore, we have to look into methods by which we can achieve progress without damaging the environment. For instance, we know that there are renewable sources of energy which are less polluting. So, the answer lies in the green technologies, which increasingly use renewable resources of energy. We should also remember the three "Rs" - reduce, reuse and recycle. In this way we can achieve an ecologically sustainable development. In order for progress to cause minimum damage to environment, sustainability has to be worked at.
Summing up, there is no doubt that with economic development, poverty is lessened. At the same time, it is also definite that development is leading to pollution. But, instead of stopping development we can work upon environmentally friendly development.
People
are divided
on the role of
economic
development
.
Some
opine that it is essential in addressing poverty whereas others say that it should be
stopped
as it is causing irreversible damage to the
environment
. This essay intends to analyze both perspectives. I
personally
believe that both arguments have weightage as poverty
has to
be mitigated
,
but
saving the
environment
is
also
equally
important
.
So
, we
have to
look into methods of sustainable
economic
development
. Stopping
economic
development
is not the way out.
It is irrefutable that by the
development
of economy
people
can
improve
their quality of life.
For example
, in
developed countries
even the poorest of the poor has the basic amenities of life such as food, clothing and shelter. All the citizens enjoy high level of social
welfare and
they enjoy free medical care and free education. Even in countries like India and China, International
Companies
have created
many
jobs and
as a result
,
economic
development
has accelerated even
further
.
However
, it is
also
true that in our quest for
development
and becoming richer, we have harmed
some
of our
environment
. Most of the things we
use
require
some
kind of
energy
to manufacture, operate and maintain. Disposing-off these things is
very
difficult too. Most of the
energy
that we
use
is polluting the
environment
. Renewable
energy
forms a
very
small
part of what is
used
on a significant scale. Effluents from large factories are
being dumped
indiscriminately
and landfill sites are filling up with non-biodegradable wastes. All this is
being done
in the name of progress.
Looking at both arguments, it is
clear
that with
economic
development
, the damage to the
environment
is inevitable.
But
, we cannot put a halt on
economic
progress
because
the status of the underprivileged
has to
be
improved
.
Therefore
, we
have to
look into methods by which we can achieve progress without damaging the
environment
.
For instance
, we know that there are renewable sources of
energy
which are less polluting.
So
, the answer lies in the green technologies, which
increasingly
use
renewable resources of
energy
. We should
also
remember the three
"
Rs
"
-
reduce
, reuse and recycle. In this way we can achieve an
ecologically
sustainable
development
. In order for progress to cause minimum damage to
environment
, sustainability
has to
be worked
at.
Summing up, there is no doubt that with
economic
development
, poverty
is lessened
. At the same time, it is
also
definite
that
development
is leading to pollution.
But
,
instead
of stopping
development
we can work upon
environmentally
friendly
development
.