3.7C - Economic Development and Environmental Impact
Contrasting trends in economic development and environmental management between global regions since 1970 indicate differential progress that can be related to the outcomes from globalisation.
The environmental impact of development and globalisation is often measured using an ecological footprint, a measure of the resources used by a country or person over the course of a year, measured in global hectares.
One way of measuring economic development is using income per capita.
Comparing trends between China and Sweden:
- Sweden's income per person has risen hugely, but it's ecological footprint has not (about 8 hectares per person in both 2012 and 1972)
- This suggests that economic development in Sweden has not affected the quality of the environment and that environmental management maintains biodiversity, water and air quality.
- China's ecological footprint has steadily risen (about 1 hectare in 1970 to 3 in 2012), however it is still more than half less than Sweden's.
- Since 2001, rising Chinese incomes correlate with very large increases in ecological footprint ($3,180 PPP in 2001, and $15,500 in 2016). Likewise, Sweden's PPP has risen from $29,710 in 2001 to $50,000 without very little change in ecological footprint.
- This suggests that economic development in China has a very large environmental impact.
Some countries can take advantage of globalisation without damaging their environment whilst others cannot.