Throughout the history, humankind has made use of the earth?s natural resources. The amount of work that is able to be done through the natural resources depends on how much resources are contained. Economists and experts globally are highly concerned over the sustainable use of natural resources use due to the further development and growth are resulting in the degradation of natural environment.
The issue of green economy is highly emphasized due to environment unfriendly activities and the fiscal policies of short term visions which is a threat to sustainable economic development and welfare economics.GDP of many countries including Nepal are highly inclined to natural resources as still being an agro based economy rather than industrialized economy. Nepal is in the phase of economic development and the economic policies are focused more on the upliftment of one?s state of economic status. To meet the demand of industrial requirement of raw materials and other resources like land, forest, minerals etc, over-exploitation of natural resources is being rapidly progressive which can?t be termed as rational idea.
It is a known fact that the development of economic sector of any nation depends upon the resources it possess. The nation?s economic models, policies and decisions rely on the amount of natural resources. Government revenue in underdeveloped countries (UDC?s) like Nepal is mainly gained from the use of natural resources and from those industries that depends on natural resources. Sustainable development of energy resources is the issue of burning concern in today?s world as it lays heavy emphasis on economic growth and the long term economic development.
UNEP?s report also supports the point as it says that, poorer countries dependency on natural resources is more, making resource scarcity is a challenge for ending poverty.
The main objective of most fiscal models of a state is to mould the economic status but less evidence is found giving priority on sustainable use of natural resources and focused much on industrialization. Recent research in developing countries by Environmental Economics Unit at university of Gothenburg, Sweden, examines the performance of innovative policy approaches, including public disclosures, economic incentives and voluntary programs for reducing pollution the environmental impacts of the small firm and how to mitigate them and the causes of deforestation and possible policy responses.
The traditional curriculum of natural resources emphasized fisheries models, forestry models and mineral extraction which is now renewed with the addition of air, water, global climate and environmental resources which have increased importance in formulation of policy.
?Raising standard of living of the general people by expediting economic growth through political stability and full utilization of available resources is the prime need of today.?
The alternatives of bio-gas energy, entrepreneurship in the sector of energy and natural resources use, awareness for the sustainable use of natural and energy resources (as UNESCO?s report says that nearly 26% of the world?s population are still illiterate) campaign can be operated for the economic use of these resources. ?Because most energy resources that are used fall under the non-renewable category, energy conservation is widely promoted. The idea is that by using less of the energy resource at once, the energy resource will last longer or smaller energy portions can be given to more people.
There is strong bi-casual relationship between economic growth and prevalent energy and natural resources. UN Department of Economic and Social Affair also had decided the celebration of ?International day of forest? on 21st march with the support of UN general assembly.
UN forum on forest (2013) also highlights the importance of natural resources on economy as: It is necessary to recognize and appropriately value the outstanding economic contributions of forest resources to human welfare and development. Even if only the formally recognized, officially reported monetary contributions of forests to the economies of developing world are taken into account, they exceed US $ 250 billion easily more than almost the double the flow of total development assistance. The direct cash exchange-based contribution of forest represents approximately 1% of global output.
This data shows that if it is the case of forest resources alone then, economic welfare and development can be achieved more through other natural resources more like water, minerals etc. Improving the sustainability of nation?s natural resource infrastructure should be the country?s top priority.
Natural resources are essential to meet basic needs. However, their exploitation has begun to exceed the earth?s capacity the scale of human activities is eating into the planet?s reserves. As an analogy, it is said that today, we use the equivalent of 1.5 earth?s to provide the resource we use and to abscard waste and till 2030?s we may need equivalent of two earth to maintain own current lifestyle.
9 Comments
Thank you all for your warm comments.
Posted 08-03-2014 17:47
Sustainable development must look for greener options. Going green is quite challenging countries must take it head on.
Posted 06-03-2014 20:39
This balance is very important. Developing nations must prosper & natural resources must be sustained.
Posted 06-03-2014 19:21
Thanks for a detailed article .
Green Economy is essential if sustainable development is to be realised. Green economy and sustainable development is gaining attention these days but this needs to pick up pace and needs to be backed & driven strongly by government policies , corporate strategies , legislative laws & more importantly must include employment and social upliftment so that the region/country sees the holistic development-economic recovery , poverty eradication and environment improvement/reduced carbon emissions.
Posted 06-03-2014 17:07
@Atitebi Thanks for the comment, I also agree with you. We must make economic plan based on long-term oriented view.
Posted 06-03-2014 16:11
Wonderful article focusing on the contextul issues especially due to the focus on sustainable development and fiscal policies.
Posted 06-03-2014 14:37
Fantastic article! I have also come to realize that associated with the problems of unsustainable use of the environment are the deepening poverty,inequality and social marginalizations especially in underdeveloped as well as developing countries,which have also resulted in diminshing human security.In various parts of Nigeria especially the rural dwellers for instance, the pressure on the ecosystem and other natural resources is increasing,with the growing rate of unsustainable exploitation of natural resources. Of more concern now are government policies of economic growth and the collaboration with multinational companies which have encouraged rapid decline in the state of the nation's ecosystem thereby affecting the biological diversity unwittingly.
The political economy has emphasized uncontrolled economic growth which neither worry about efficient energy use or conservation of natural resources.So much energy is wasted during the production process and nature's diversity is relegated to the back and the plants that occupy the lands are generally of lower quality and usefulness.
It is my opinion that no economy can be called successful if prosperity comes at the expense of future generations. We must be guided by moral codes of conduct.
Posted 05-03-2014 15:59
absolutely. green economy is the most used word but there are several issues relating to it. it seems like a ghost to me which everyone calls for but nobody have practiced. really challenging
Posted 05-03-2014 15:19
Thank you for detail, well-elaborated article. Most of times, introducing sustainable energy system itself becomes the resources of economic growth of a country. Because it induces new industry, job-sector and etc. Most of countries can develop sustainable economy system but the lacking one is will of the governments and awareness of citizens.
Posted 05-03-2014 14:59