Publication
Title
Pollute first, clean up later?
Author
Abstract
There is a growing concern with regard to sustainability in emerging economies like China. The Chinese growth is characterized by a strategy which is known as pollute first, clean up later. Here we show that based on this strategy, the pollution alarm can often be postponed by a tremendous economic growth that can potentially improve welfare and educational systems. The welfare and educated societies will be aware and rich enough not only to clean up but also to prevent the environmental pollutions. It underlines that a certain threshold of development should first be reached before a society is capable of understanding the adverse effects of large scale pollution. For this purpose, we need to encourage the use of fossil fuels in the first place. The challenge however remains to make sure whether such a strategy can develop in a sustainable way.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Global and planetary change. - Amsterdam
Publication
Amsterdam : 2011
ISSN
0921-8181
DOI
10.1016/J.GLOPLACHA.2011.05.006
Volume/pages
78 :3-4 (2011) , p. 77-82
ISI
000295313500001
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Project info
Publication type
Subject
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 08.09.2011
Last edited 04.03.2024
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