Economy and ecology: problems of interaction
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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and ways sustainable development.Novosibirsk., 1995.
2)
Girusov E. V. the Fundamentals of social ecology: M.,1998.
3) Lacko, R. Economic problems of the
environment.M, 1995.
4) Markovich, D. J. Social ecology. M., 1991.
5) Oleinik, E. M., Harmonization of economic and
environmental development. M., 1999.
6) Rodionova I. A. the Global environmental
problems. M, 1995.
7) Todaro, M. Economic development. M, 1997. 8)
V. Kurbatov. Experience in solving environmental problems in China.//Russian
economic journal, 1996, No. 7, p. 101-108