Ever since the Industrial Revolution, the growth of economy has become tied with hurting the environment. It was around that time that we first grasped the idea of mass production, and began implementing it. Before that, technology was not as advanced to be able to hurt the environment in a major way, in order to produce something. Now everyone has their own personal carbon footprint in the world. Due to the fact that every nation abuses the environment in order to continue manufacturing and grow their economy, the environment is getting abused on a massive scale. If one country was to set a regulation on carbon and green house gas emitted into the atmosphere, it would have a disadvantage in the global economy. However, disregarding the environment is just as bad. A country who exploits their environment, in the long run will suffer. Which will make their economy stagnate. This can be seen today, in China. China’s rivers and air are so polluted today that they are detrimental to the health of its citizens. China has been so invested in unclean manufacturing, that a massive switch to green manufacturing will stagnate the economy severely.
Life expectancy in north China, is worst then south China by 5.5 years due to the air pollution. The cost to deal with air pollution is rising, due to the fact that it has gone untreated for so long. Currently 3.5% of China’s GDP goes towards the environment. However, that statistic is not accurate due to the fact that it is a sensitive topic and the ministry releases figures intermittently. Air pollution alone causes 1.2 million premature deaths in China. Currently China is trying to limit its pollution and clean its environment. The environment we live in is extremely important, and should be protected. We should put laws in place now to help our environment, even if it hurts our economy. Because if the environment in our country is destroyed our economy and way of life will be decimated as well.
Albert, Eleanor. “China’s Environmental Crisis.” Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations, 18 Jan. 2016. Web. 16 Dec. 2016.
