Understandably, developing countries face unique challenges in addressing concerns related to the environment.
Apart from the environment, poor developing countries have more pressing and immediate problems that oftentimes present themselves so forcefully that politicians are forced to make too many compromises, particulalrly on environmental issues.
But simply ignoring “going green” will indeed destroy the base of natural resources that developing countries need for sustainable economic, social, and political prosperity.
“For most, emission reduction is not a viable option in the near term. With income levels far below those of developed countries and per capita emissions on average just one-sixth those of the industrialized world developing countries will continue to increase their emissions as they strive for economic growth and a better quality of life,” says Eileen Claussen, President of Pew Center on Global Climate Change.
“But their steadfast resistance to the idea of limiting their emissions has led to claims in some quarters that developing countries are not doing their fair share,” she adds.
As the world’s consciousness awakens to the terrible things that human beings have done to the environment, it is clear that underdeveloped countries will be only committing suicide by following development models that jeopardize the environment.
It is a well known fact that success ceases to have meaning, particularly if the quest to find it is self-destructive. Under-developed countries need to step out the bubble of seeking a development agenda that is predicated by the standards of advanced industrial countries.
The development model of highly industrialized countries is indeed the source of most past and current emissions of greenhouse gases, and it will be foolhardy to follow that model.
Developing countries have a moral responsibility to ensure that they do not behave like blindfolded sheep. In that vein, if the map of success developing countries are looking for is characterized by practices that are destructive to the environment, it becomes meaningless, and endangers humanity globally.
In effect, developing countries will be left with greater problems that many of the advanced industrial countries face today if they do not take proactive action against practices that damage the environment.
Simply put, the scope of human suffering that will be caused by harmful environmental practices will rip communities and nations apart.
In many developing countries, the phenomenon of climate change is already unraveling so-called development gains through erratic rainfall patterns that negatively affect agriculture, which is the economic mainstay of many of the countries.
Going green is therefore a better long term strategy to achieving success in underdeveloped countries compared to pursuing destructive environmental practices.