Rich nations must tackle environment: World Bank
Canberra Times, - The World Bank has warned that rich countries must change the way they produce and consume energy, and take more responsibilityfor fixing the world's environmental problems.It also says new research shows developing countries are now outstripping wealthier nations in voicing concern for the environmentand are driving a new wave of global environmental activism.
In its annual report, "Environment Matters", the World Bank says global aid for the environment has averaged only about $2billion each year over the past decade, compared to $900 billion on military expenditures each year.The report estimates environmental aid from the world's richer nations amounts to an annual average of only $2.50 per person."If the war on environmental degradation is to be won, we need a major turnaround," World Bank president James Wolfensohn said."Rich countries' larger contribution to environmental damage means they must shoulder a greater responsibility for fixing the problem.
That means changing the way they produce and consume energy - reducing subsidies, ensuring appropriate pricing and adequately taxing environmentally damaging products." The world needed to make " a much more serious commitment" to renewable energy, energy efficiency and environmentally-friendly energy sources.
A business-as-usual approach would mean that by 2003, greenhouse emissions would have increased by 70 per cent.Progress in meeting environmental goals set at the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000 was "alarmingly slow".But new research reveals global trends have changed dramatically, with poorer countries now showing a stronger interest in environmentalreform than richer nations.
Surveys across 30 countries showed that 75 per cent of citizens in developing countries were dissatisfied with current environmental laws and expressed stronger concerns than wealthier nations on 11 environmental issues, including freshwater shortages, air pollution, car emissions, chemical usage and climate change.
16 December 2004, Canberra Times (Australia)
