Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
degradation are complex and perhaps context speci
c, but recent improvements in empir-
ical methods address a number of past criticisms, which adds robustness to the EKC
results for certain environmental pollutants.
However, recent studies have raised important questions with serious rami
fi
cations for
LDCs. Should today's developing countries follow the 'grow now, clean up later' logic that
has characterized the development paths of today's rich countries? Given predictions that
some LDCs will not reach EKC turning points for decades to come, it is even more imper-
ative that economic growth and liberalization should not be thought of as a solution for
environmental problems. Therefore it might not be optimal, particularly for LDCs, to
follow an EKC pathway for a variety of reasons, including: the likelihood of high envi-
ronmental damage costs; the high cost of raising environmental quality after the damage
has occurred; and the potential of reaching environmental thresholds and causing irre-
versible environmental damage. A precautionary approach suggests that in order to
decouple economic value from environmental degradation, policy responses are needed
from the earliest stages of economic development. Thus alternative socioeconomic
factors that would induce increased demand for environmental regulations should be
given incentives, along with measures to spur economic growth.
fi
Note
1.
The emissions include particulates, SO
x
,NO
x
, non-methane volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide
and lead over the time period from 1970 to 1990.
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