Problems of interaction in
Economy and ecology
Utarov K.A.-candidate of economical sciences.
K. A. Yassavi International
Kazakh-Turkish University
Toleshova M.T. - master of Economics, senior teacher
M.Auezov South Kazakhstan state
University
Desert land without a single blade of grass, a deserted
town, the water, teeming with waste, the air temperature has Fahrenheit...No,
it's not a nightmare, just a picture of a fantastic future. However, it may at
any moment become a reality.
What are reasons for this? A lot of
them: industrialization, urbanization, intensification, and many other clever
words ending in "tion". All of them can be grouped under one word:
Throughout its existence, of a man who sought to build without having a full
picture of the world and by solving only short-term objectives, be it food
production or the construction of a nuclear power plant. And every time the
vector of creation and development has been directed towards the environment
which man has exploited according to their needs.
But at the turn of the new
Millennium clearly marked horizons of human activity, manifested in the threat
of ecological disaster and dangerous for all mankind. The question arose about
the change of world view, rethinking of the old and search for new ways of
development. This applies to the problem of interaction between man and nature,
and the global economy and ecology. What can the economy to the environment and
how can we achieve this - that is the main issue of this work. Its structure is
as follows. In the beginning we will discuss the following questions:
·
Modern
ecological situation;
·
Economic growth as one of the causes
of the environmental crisis;
·
Positions that exist on this issue in the economic literature;
Then will be given possible solutions to environmental problems from the point
of view of economy:
·
Is it possible to harmonize environmental and economic development
in modern conditions?
·
Rational use of natural resources;
·
Greening of the economy within the
concept of sustainable development;
·
Solving urgent problems of environmental development: the case of
China.
Finally,
the conclusion on the need of interaction and consolidation of different
approaches to solving environmental problems. It remains to note that the work
focuses on economic aspects of environmental problems and opportunities, beyond
it be all possible social, political, etc. implications that open the field for
other research.
The conflict between man and nature
that existed throughout the development of humanity, has become universal and
determined the nature of economic-environmental issues: economic progress at
the expense of environmental regress. Why economic development leads to the
final? The answer lies in its principles.
The economy has always been aimed at
meeting the material needs of society. In the evolution of social needs
increased, making necessary the further development of technology. As a result,
in the 20th century economic development[1] is already impossible without
scientific and technical progress, provision and maintenance of constant
production growth rates, implying increasing dependence on natural resources.
Of
course, the available natural and human resources, level of technical
knowledge, the institutions determine the conditions of functioning of the economy.
Society has always depended on natural resources, but the problem is that this
dependency is not taken into account in the economy. A person tends to consume,
not save. Thus, the basic contradiction between economic and ecological
development lies in the fact that, on the one hand, the economy should to
develop, on the other hand, this development generates adverse environmental
effects.
To get a complete picture of the extent of this
influence, it is necessary to digress and refer to realities. What has led the
rapid development of economy and human activity? Pollution around the space,
ocean, air, and water - the greenhouse effect, deforestation, desertification,
extinction of many species of plants and animals are just some of the major
anthropogenic impact on the environment. Here are the concrete facts.
During the years after the second world war it was used
so many minerals, how much for the entire previous history of mankind that has
created the problem of depletion of natural resources.
While environmental risk increases, economists are not
asleep. Increasing attention is paid to the explanation of the economic causes
of environmental problems. One of them, some economists believe the economic
growth.
Economic growth – long-term increase in
production the ability of an economy based on technological progress, is able
to provide the population increasing diversity of wealth.
Does in fact economic growth on the
environment? Opinions of economists on this issue were divided.
Arguments against growth
Opponents of economic growth, above all, concerned
about the deterioration of the environment. They argue that industrialization
and economic growth give rise to such negative phenomena of modern life, like
pollution, industrial noise and emissions, deterioration of cities, traffic
congestion, etc.
All these costs of economic growth occur because of the
production process converts natural resources, but not dispose of them
completely. Almost everything involved in the production, eventually returned
to the environment as waste. The greater economic growth and higher standard of
living, the more waste will have to absorb or try to absorb the environment. In
any sufficiently advanced society, further economic growth can only mean to
meet the more urgent needs with increasing threat of environmental crisis.
Therefore, some economists believe that economic growth should aim to hold
back.
This position is close to "zero
growth theory", based on the study the relationship of population
growth[3], the depletion of natural resources and environmental degradation.
According to it, the only way out is to end or, at least, stabilization of
economic growth at some optimal level that does not pose threat to natural
conditions. However, an opposing point of view.
In defense of economic growth
Supporters of economic growth believe that its
relationship with the environment are exaggerated. In fact, these problems can
be separated from each other. If the company refuses from economic growth,
saving GNP at a constant level, he will still have to choose between different
structures of production, and this choice will affect the environment and
quality of life. Society still needs to determine whether to preserve the
natural beauty of the forest, or cut it for firewood. And if the forest is cut
down, you must decide whether to use wood to build houses or to put it on
billboards.
According to defenders of this approach, pollution is
not as much side product of economic growth as the result of incorrect pricing,
namely: a significant part of the natural resources (rivers, lakes, oceans and
air) is regarded as "common property" has no value. Therefore, these
resources are used excessively intense, which worsens their condition.
Environmental pollution is an example of a by-product or spillover costs. The
solution to this problem is possible with the introduction of legislative
restrictions or special taxes ("payment for water"), to compensate
for the defects of the system of pricing and to prevent irrational use of
natural resources. Proponents of this perspective do not deny the serious
problems associated with environmental pollution, but consider that limiting
economic growth will not solve them. The essence of their position: "to
limit pollution, we need to limit it, and not the economic growth".
It is clear now that stopping economic growth is
impossible, because there is feedback: one of its sources is the quantity and
quality of natural resources. In conflict "environment – economic
development" it is not so much about the dilemma or economic development,
or clean environment, the need to achieve a common goal: to provide such a
level of development that involved not only the creation of material goods
needed by society, but also to maintain "clean" environment. Based on
this and the principle of sustainable development.
Conclusion
So, analyzing the principles of interaction of economy and ecology, we can draw the following conclusions. The utilitarian approach to nature has identified the contradiction between economic and ecological development. Focus development on economic growth has led to global ecological problems of modern the scale of which is incalculable.
From an economic point of view in solving this conflict it is not about a complete cessation of economic growth, and new directions economic development combined with environmental: rational environmental management involves the use of alternative resources; greening of the economy, taking into account environmental factors in production and technology.
In this article it was noted that currently environmental issues can be overcome in an economic way. However, it causes new contradictions. Ecological development in principle undermines the main task of the economy: achieving profit. In fact, the conflict remains intractable.
Modernity strives to embody the idea of consolidating
the various principles – social, legal, political – to resolve the conflict.
But this is a superficial solution to the problem. In the run output is
possible only in a radical revision of the very foundations of human existence,
in changing human needs, combining a scientific approach to worldview,
combining scientific research with a spiritual understanding of the nature of
the problem. This is the only way to reach consensus.
In conclusion, I want to bring the
ancient Indian aphorism:
Nature
is not something we inherited from our ancestors, and the fact that we took a
loan from descendants.
Humanity has to be reasonable by the
debtor and to pay interest, for a second loan online....
References
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M., 1991.
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