Environment as a Necessity and Luxury

Environment as a Necessity 

Rapid environmental degradation that has been taking place all over the world in recent decades has alarmed economists and environmentalists alike. Most economists are now convinced that unless strong steps are taken to preserve the environment the future is dommed. The danger in developing countries is that communities may inadvertently as a result of ignorance or economic necessity. Damage to the environment has three potential costs to present and future human welfare:

a)It harms human health

b)It reduces economic productivity

c)It leads to loss of amenities

Environment degradation harms human health

Human welfare is reduced by ill health and premature mortality caused by the degradation of air and water quality and by other environmental risks. Pollutants can cause health problems due to direct exposure or indirectly through changes in the physical environment - the effects of which range from increased solar radiation to lower nutrition.

Environmental degradation reduces economic productivity

Impaired health may lower human productivity, and environmental degradation reduces the productivity of many resources used directly by people. Water pollution damages fisheries and waterlogging and salinisation of the soil lower crop yields.

Environmental degradation leads to loss of amenities

Amenities include values that range from those associated with deeply held spiritual views about the intrinsic worth of the natural world. Amenities are hard to measure than costs to health and productivity but must be valued just as highly.

Environment as a Luxury

According to some economists, there is a conflict of sorts between economic growth and environmental protection. The processes of economic growth are invariably accompanied by an increased level of pollution and environmental degradation.

It is said that since the developing countries have very low levels of income, widespread poverty, and high unemployment levels, they have no choice but to focus on economic growth. At the present level of their development, focussing on environmental issues is a luxury they cannot afford.

Conclusion:

Environmental protection involves huge expenditure and this expenditure is bound to strain the resources available with the developing countries considerably, yet these countries can afford to neglect the environment at their own peril.