Is environmental conservation the responsibility of developed countries?

Stand: No it is the responsibility of all countries to protect the environment Antithesis: 1. Historical contribution - Developed nations built up their prosperity through industrialization from the 19th to 20th century - Responsible for and benefitted the most of the from the deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions - Examples: o 1900 - 2004: United States produced 314,772 million metric tonnes of CO2 vs Chinas 89,243 million metric tonnes o While India now produces more CO2, Germany emitted three times as much over the same period - Many of these developed nations were also colonial masters that built their prosperity from the exploitation of natural resources in developing countries - Example: o Belgium's ravaging Congolese landscape for diamonds, British pursuit of trading goods in South East Asia - Hence it is only fair that they bear a greater responsibility to combating climate change as they have reaped the most benefits at the expense of the environment - It would also be hypocritical to deny developing countries the ability to develop their industries freely just as they had in the past - Demonstrated through: The Principle of Common But Differentiated ResponsibilitiesWorld Summit 2002 o Common responsibility to protect an environmental resource but translated into differentiated environmental standards based on circumstances, future economic development and historic contributions 2. Developed countries are still the major contributors to environmental degradation and pollution - Higher standard of living that requires a huge amounts of energy consumption - Electrical appliances and vehicles: energy guzzlers - Example: according to Worldwatch institute, the average person's CO2 emission in Britain per day is equivalent to that of a citizen in Mali in a year - China might lead the world in total volume of carbon emissions but USA is a close second and yet USA has a much smaller population. This means for carbon emissions per head, USA greatly exceeds China - UN report in 2008: world's largest corporations caused $2.2 trillion worth of damage to the environment 3. Developed countries have the financial ability to combat climate change - High costs to effect change - Requires specialized expertise to develop new technologies and implement practices - R&D to develop greener technologies - Examples: o hybrid fuel cars in Japan, Freiburg City of Germany runs entirely on solar power o Norway: invest billions to develop carbon capture and storage technology, while Ghana can only allocate $1000 for research in green technology o Expenditures for environmental protection in the US are estimated to exceed $150 billion annually (2% of GDP)

4. Developing countries have more pressing concerns - Issues of hunger and sanitation more pressing in countries where many people still live below the absolute poverty line - Not practical to prioritize environmental concerns over economic growth - Example: Even though India produces double the carbon emissions of Japan, 456 million people live on under $1.25 per day , therefore they need to industrialize to pull these people out of poverty Thesis: 1. Developing countries should not be absolved from all responsibility especially since they are already severely polluting the environment - Rapidly industrializing countries have sought economic growth at the expense of the environment - Example: o Countries like China/India aggregate annual emissions that comprise roughly half of global emissions and are still increasing. o Dumping of toxic waste into Ganges River in India, destruction of Sumatra's rainforest in Indonesia - Environment is a global problem that requires the involvement of everyone - Everyone plays a part in its destruction and everyone also feels its effects 2. Developing nations are just as capable as developed nation in combating climate change - Environmental protection can start from small measures as every bit counts towards saving the environment - Example: There are low cost solutions to combating climate change such as changing cooking stoves in developing world for $25 - Developing nations can also do their part without having to develop cutting edge green technology by enforcing environmental regulations - Example: Illegal logging in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil is allowed to continue, no pollution and excessive mining penalties in China 3. Especially Developing nations can benefit from environmental protection - Concern for the environment may not be viewed as a burden but as an important factor for economic growth - Developing countries especially depend on the land as they have primary industries such as agriculture, farming and mining which are dependent on the condition of the environment - Any short term gains would be eroded in the long term as they resources are depleted causing their economy to stall - Example: o Improper disposal of waste can cause leachate which pollutes the ground and rivers which would affect agriculture o Illegal logging would deplete the Amazon rainforest resulting in eventual long term loss unlike if only legal logging was conducted at a pace that allowed for regeneration Conclusion: International cooperation required: - Bangladesh, more than a million households without access to electricity are now getting off-grid solar power thanks to a US$130m project from the World Bank

$558 million Climate Investment Fund (CIF) Forest Investment Program (FIP) will support developing country's efforts to reduce deforestation and forest degradation and promote sustainable forest management that can lead to emission reductions and protection of carbon reservoir Everyone has to play a part of it would result in the tragedy of the commons