Essay Sample on Pollution: The Poor Paying the Price of Progress

Introduction

The idea that "pollution is the price of progress" has been supported by scholars who have identified the poor as the people who pay for the price. In developing countries where there is rampant poverty, there are lower costs. The polluting industries assist with the reduction of the high costs associated with pollution effects in the developing nations. Through pollution, the poor pay for the price of progress, and economically, this assertion helps in the stimulation of the economy.

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Moral and Economic Issues

This concept provides economic advantages while ignoring the ethical issues present in the redirection of pollution to the developing nations. The human rights charter provides for the right to all humans, including a healthy environment. Therefore, the redirection of pollution to the developing nations is a violation of human rights. In the Case Study, the "Valley of Death" located in Sao Paulo has a population of over 100,000 individuals suffering from pollution caused by the different industrial plants discharging pollutants into the air daily. Due to the pollutants' discharge, the poor suffer from respiratory diseases and a higher infant mortality rate at 10% (Shaw 99). The moral issue is that of the value of life, where life expectancy is measured through per capita income. The economic argument is that of the wealthier nations imposing their environmental protection standards on the developing countries.

The Link between Economic Progress and Development

Given that the costs of pollution increase with more pollution, there is more sense in shifting pollution from dirty regions such as those in Los Angeles to the clean ones located in Africa. For most individuals, an increase in income levels means demands for a clean environment. When other things are equal, costs reduce when pollution move from the rich to less wealthy regions. Environmental policies always include trade-offs, which calls for the need of finding a balance between the benefits and costs. When growth is slow due to the environmental controls, fewer individuals come out of poverty as a result of economic development. There are two implications for economic progress and development. Firstly, environmental damage undermines the productivity of the economy. Secondly, poverty is a significant reason for damages to the environment since individuals living in the subsistence level cannot invest in the protection of the environment (Bazhal 4). For individuals residing in the poor states, economic development is an improvement of their environment. The poor and rich nations have different concerns. For instance, the environmentalists in the rich countries worry over the protection of the endangered species, preservation of biological diversity, prevention of climatic changes, and saving the ozone layer. However, the poor are concerned over soil erosion, deforestation, dirty air, and water (Shaw 100).

The Link Between Air Pollution Controls and Environmental Protection

A significant concern for air pollution controls and the protection of the environment for all poor and rich nations is global warming (Shaw 100). It provides information on the ways the poor regions, particularly those near the equator, are more susceptible to shortages of water. These poor areas are also more vulnerable to storms, which cause higher concentrations of greenhouses. Therefore, towards environmental protection, the rich nations must do more in curbing emissions connected to global warming (Shaw 101). Additionally, these rich countries must also assist the developing nations in identifying energy sources which cause less pollution apart from oil and coal.

Work Cited

Bazhal, Iurii. "The theory of economic development of JA Schumpeter: Key features." (2016). Retrieved from https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/69883/1/MPRA_paper_69883.pdf

Shaw, William H. Business ethics: A textbook with cases. Nelson Education, 2016.