Can Environment Protection and Economic Development go together? (by Bandeep Rabha) – APSC Mains Essay

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Can Environment Protection and Economic Development go together? – APSC Mains Essay

(Essay submitted in APSC Mains Essay Writing Contest 2019 – Essay Topics for week 3)

 

Can Environment Protection and Economic Development go together?

By Bandeep Rabha

 

Introduction:

Man has always maintained a cordial relationship with the nature from the ancient times. The Indian culture has always revered trees as a symbol of divinity. Infact, Lord Krishna identified himself as Ashwatha, or the peepal tree. By the beginning of 19th century the developed countries began exploiting natural resources in excuse of economic development and this resulted in rapid degradation of the environment. At present the developing countries like China and India are also contributing hugely to environmental degradation.

Environment and Economic Development:

The natural environment plays a very important role in our economy, as a direct input into production and through many other services. For the rapid development of the country, projects like power plants, mines etc. needs to be implemented which are the core inputs for all other industries. Natural resources such as minerals and fossil fuels acts as raw material inputs to them. Other services of environment which enable economic activity are sequestering carbon, filtering air and water pollution, protecting against flood risk and soil formation. It is also vital for our wellbeing providing us with recreational opportunities, improving our health and much more.

Economic growth, in turn, is important for the prosperity and wellbeing of the economy and its citizens – in both advanced economies and in developing nations. For developing countries like China and India where substantial chunk of population could hardly meet its daily need, economic development is only pill which could pull these people from the quagmire of poverty. It is also important factor for improvements in health, education and overall quality of life.

Effects of Economic Development on Environment:

While economic development has many benefits – raising standards of living and improving quality of life across the world – it has also resulted in the depletion of natural resources and the degradation of ecosystems. There has been much debate over whether or not it is possible to achieve economic growth without unsustainably degrading the environment and a growing realisation that economic growth rate at the current rate of depletion and degradation of environmental assets cannot continue indefinitely.

The ruthless development increased the percentage of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere which led to the rise in the long term mean temperature of the earth often called as global warming.  The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere are water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone.

The global warming has increased the frequency of extreme weathers conditions like droughts, floods, cyclones etc. which would ultimately affect the crop production in almost all countries.  Since agriculture sustains the life of the poorer sections of the society, changing weather pattern is putting their existence as well as food security at stake.

Way Forward:

The only option left for the humans is to tread on the path of sustainable development which improves life of a person without adversely affecting the environment surrounding him. As once Mahatma Gandhi has said, “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need but not enough for any man’s greed”, sustainable development also calls for the development in perpetuity which is not possible if the environment is ignored.

[ 510 Words ]

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