Climate Change

One of the key criticisms that many developing countries have had to face in the modern, globalised world is that of resulting environmental destruction and ecological damage from rapid industrialisation.

Climate change is arguably on of the most globally contentious issues facing our world right now. It is clear that climate change is directly affecting and hindering the traditional lifestyles of many developing nations, and that in itself this requires a significant global effort to combat. Coastal living areas  all over the world are being forced further and further inland because of rising water levels. However, at the same time, it is potential to see a continuous push for neo-loberal trade liberalisation and rapid industrialisation, in order to maintain economic strength in the global economy.


I find it interesting to see how quickly and readily countries are willing to absolve their national responsibility towards this. Many developing countries, despite being major pollutants, have attempted to argue an unfair pressure placed on developing countries to adopt more sustainable development initiatives, especially when the West have been able to industrialise largely free of any environmnetal or other constraints.

Although the argument is potentially valid, it is clear that the effect of climate change and environmental destruction affect everyone all over the world. Just earlier this year, Taukelau, a tiny little island off New Zealand wrote an open letter to Dean Dalla Valle, CEO of BHP Billiton, about the effects of their coal mining operations in Australia on the livelihoods of their people. It is very clear to see from this that environmental damage transcends borders, and as such requires a global