Are developed countries more responsible for damage to the climate?
The most developed countries should be combating global warming the most, because they're the most capable.
Developed countries contribute a lot to the problem of global warming. Therefore, they should work a lot to combat the problem. But more than that, they're also the most capable of combating the problem. Even if the developing world contributes substantially to the problem, it doesn't have the resources to fix it. For the betterment of the world - the entire world - developed countries must step up and bear most of the burden of fighting global warming.
Posted by: A BassI agree that developed countries are more responsible for damage to the climate, it is the industries of the developed countries that are destroying the environment.
The coal mines and oil refineries pose a health risk to the people employed in those industries and also add pollutants to the air. Developed countries have the financial means to exploit natural resources and nuclear facilities and pharmaceutical laboratories continue to harm our climate due to the dumping of chemicals in our waterways and landfills.
Posted by: CowardlyVirgil31Developed countries are more responsible for climate change, due to their high populations and reliance on fossil fuels.
Developed countries are more responsible than underdeveloped countries for the recent damage to the global climate. With their sprawling urban centers and pollution-spewing factories, they are much more to blame than their sustainable, rural cousins. The developed countries should, therefore, pay a premium to the lesser-developed countries to help them skip over these "dirty" phases of development and aid them in their pursuit of modern amenities, but in clean, sustainable ways.
Posted by: C0n5tGetIndustrialized countries who are more developed are more likely to damage the environment and thus affect the climate globally.
Industrialized countries are far more likely to cause damage to the environment which can cause damage to the climate. The nations who participate in manufacturing release more dangerous greenhouse gases that cause damage to the ozone and can eventually cause climate change. Undeveloped nations have a much smaller footprint in regards to ozone damage. It is this reason that the developed countries have a responsible to the 3rd world countries to clean up their environmental act.
Posted by: AndreaSYes indeed.
Look at the greenhouse gas emissions and the CO2 emissions over the past twenty years. Seven of the of the 200+ countries in the world namely China, United States, Russia, Japan, Germany, South Korea and Canada account for nearly 60.4% of the total greenhouse emissions of 33.376 million tonnes across the globe. Consider the levels of deforestation that happened in the so called developed countries in the name of industrialization. One has to take the cognizance of the aforesaid emission levels and the deforestation on global warming.
Posted by: AnonymousYes they do.
Inevitable, both the developing and industrial nations contribute towards global warming, however it is controversial in literature whether or not industrial nations are more responsible for global warming than developing nations. It could be argued that over time industrial nation have produced far greater greenhouses emissions than that of developing nations. However, the current contributions to climate change at this present time sway more in favour of poor and less developed countries, which have been said to produce over half of the total carbon emissions emitted throughout the whole of the world. (Economist, 2009) There seems to be an endless struggle as it’s believed that for developing nations to build and improve their economies, manufacturing and energy costly industries need to be relied upon a great deal more than what they do so already. This leaves developing nations with a decision to surrender their development for a better economy or face the consequences in which global warming may have to offer. (Mongabay, n.D) Even though developing nations are new to the increase of carbon emissions, it could be suggested that industrial countries face a far greater responsibility for damage caused over time and should support developing nations to grow and advance more ecologically through financing and technology. (Shah, 2012)
Posted by: AnonymousMore sophisticated countries do take a greater toll on the Earth, due to their polluting actions.
Countries that are more developed are definitely more responsible for the damage to the climate. Sophisticated countries have sophisticated technology that impacts the Earth. We have automobiles which pollute the air. We have power plants that pollute the water. We have factories dumping chemicals that pollute the soil. We create synthetic materials that are not biodegradable.
Posted by: TedieDelightAs the biggest contributors to climate change, developed nations should be most responsible for the solution.
Developed nations emit the vast bulk of greenhouse gases which are causing the Earth's climate to change. They have also benefited the most from the legacy of industrialization which has caused the problem. As such, they should be the ones to bear the biggest burden of whatever solution is agreed upon by the global community.
Posted by: GLawrenceYes they did and still do!
Well if we look at the early 20th century and mid 20th century, most of the developed countries of today were using most of the non renewable resources (like coal for example which we know causes air pollution), for rapid industrialization and development. Their excessive use of these resources with no regard for the environment is what has contributed to them being the developed nations of the world of today.
Posted by: AnonymousDeveloped countries hold more responsibility for damage to climate, since they have the money to do more.
Often, developing countries are dirt poor, without even enough resources to adequately feed their population. Developed countries have far more resources, and should be able to develop better ways to improve the environment -and climate change is, essentially, an environmental problem. Often, the best solutions are also cost-effective, so they could then share these better practices with developing nations, as well. It would be a win-win situation. The expense of figuring out the solution could be borne by those who best can afford it - and that will, ultimately, be returned in savings.
Posted by: K_FryeAs A Whole, Yes
When looking at the emissions as a whole, developed countries emit far more greenhouse gas than any other countries. However, when looking at charts of countries by emissions of greenhouse gas/carbon dioxide, you find that China is the biggest contributor to pollution in the ozone, and they are a developing country. Cumulatively, though, developing countries do most.
Posted by: WriterSelbeYes they are
They have the resources, and should act as role models to the developing countries, showing how we can be more responsible. Instead of endlessly showing off and acting like a superpower (Security Council P-5): do something!!!
So yes, they are more responsible, because they can actually do something about it. Let's see if they start acting! Even though some are already!Posted by: AnonymousDeveloped countries has the most responsibility to stop global warming
Developed nations emit the vast bulk of greenhouse gases which are causing the Earth's climate to change. They have also benefited the most from the legacy of industrialization which has caused the problem. As such, they should be the ones to bear the biggest burden of whatever solution is agreed upon by the global community.
Posted by: AnonymousThe vast majority of carbon emissions are due to developed countries who are past industrialization.
In regards to the immediate physical impacts of climate change, southern nations point out that the primary burden is and will be shouldered by developing nations, which are the least responsible and are also the least able to cope. For example, climate change will have much more catastrophic effects in Bangladesh than the United States or Europe. Millions of Bengalis will become flood refugees, and crop failures due to extreme temperatures will cripple Bangladesh’s agriculturally based economy and send millions into poverty. Developed nations, which have industrially rather than agriculturally based economies are less threatened and also have the resources to cope with the effects of climate change. Bangladesh cannot build sea balls, the Netherlands can. (Parikh 2941) Additionally, Southern nations argue that globalization heightens climate inequality because as the North continues to specialize in high tech and service sectors it is effectively outsourcing its carbon emissions – and blame – to the South. (parks 144)
Posted by: AnonymousDeveloped countries are more responsible for damage to the climate because they have more industries and use more resources.
Developed countries are more responsible for damage to the climate because they have been through every growth phase that less developed countries have been through, and they have more industries that add to environmental and climate damage. They usually have more demands for resources that add to climate change, such as beef and energy. Methane and pollution are two of the biggest causes of climate change, and the methane from raising cattle to feed populations in developing countries and the pollution from industries in those countries cause significantly more climate change than just the cattle being raised in under-developed nations.
Posted by: EImerBuddieYes, because how else did they get to be developed countries in the first place?
Developed countries acquired their technology, infrastructure, and standard of living largely through the use of pollution-intensive industrialization. There is no serious dispute about this fact, or about the fact that developed countries' economies contribute the most to the release of carbon dioxide and other climate-harming chemicals into the air. If developed countries want less-developed counterparts currently experiencing badly needed economic growth to invest in expensive alternative energy technologies, then they, that is the developing countries, should provide the financial assistance to make this task feasible. They should also clean up their own act, and arrange to transition their economies to the use of more environmentally sustainable fuels, technologies, and modes of living.
Posted by: M4I4cFeIineDeveloped countries have a larger people and business concentration and therefore, cause more climate damaging pollution.
Developed countries (in general) have a larger population base and a considerably higher business density. More people means more automobiles, and more business means more pollution. The waste created by both negatively effect the environment, which in turn creates a negative effect on the climate, much more so than by an undeveloped country.
Posted by: MundN34rIy
Screw IT
Developing countries cause more damage to the climate because they are still in the developing stage and burn more fossil fuels and have production units so that these countries can match up to the benchmarks set by their developed counterparts. The developing countries, even though rural mainly, cause more drastic climatic changes than developed ones. Because developed countries are just catering to the unlimited wants of its men whereas developing countries are not only doing that but also building their economy, industries, etc.
Posted by: AnonymousDeveloped countries sometimes do not cause the most damage to our climate, sometimes undeveloped countries cause more damage because they don't know any better.
Undeveloped countries can put our environment in danger by not knowing how they are effecting the environment. Simply cutting too many trees effects the environment and destroying plant and animal life. In developed countries, people are aware of the damage to the climate more and do try to find ways to stop the problem, or offset the damage.
Posted by: babydoll93Biased question.
It assumes countries are causing a natural occurrence. We aren't, cosmic rays , the PDO, and the sun are. Sun has cooled since 2000... So has the sun, so that proves my point. NO COUNTRY IS TO BLAME!!!!!! So instead of blindly trusting computer models, learn the facts. "The air and ocean temperature data shows that the climate models overestimate temperature rises." http://mises.org/daily/5892
Posted by: 16kadamsNot even close.
Developed countries have the infrastructure to control and preserve the climate better than undeveloped countries. As for global warming it is scientifically and physically questionable that CO2 emission are even the cause. Indirectly of course developed countries are damaging the climate by putting into place energy policy that makes it harder for undeveloped countries to progress effectively, continuing the general state of poverty which results in bad climate care. This is also a description question..what is meant by more responsible? developed countries are not more responsible for current climate damage. but they ARE responsible for the development of technology to fight it.
Posted by: AnonymousThe developed countries are not more responsible for damage to the climate, since the developed countries have regulations controlling things.
It is more the underdeveloped countries instead of the developed countries that are causing more damage to the climate. The developed countries have all sorts of regulations in place to keep the pollution in check, whereas the underdeveloped countries do not and in fact the people do not have the money to put the proper repairs in place.
Posted by: eyeslikethatNo, developed countries are not more responsible for damage to the climate because climate change/global warming is an unproven science and developed countries clean up their messes while undeveloped countries do not.
No, developed countries are not more responsible for damage to the climate because climate change.global warming is an unproven science and many scientists do not think this is happening. Deveoped contries also have the technology to clean their messes up while underdeveloped countries hardly ever do. Pollution and sanitation are a much bigger problem in undeveloped countries also.
Posted by: MycCra2iiNo, developed countries are not more responsible simply because poorer countries are hurt.
Developed countries face their own problems, especially debt. There is still a debate about climate change in the U.S., thus it is unwise to make a judgment of how the U.S. should act towards poor nations. Even if climate change is true, there is still lacking evidence it is due to man. Thus, there is no reason to hold any nation, rich or poor, accountable.
Posted by: D CallahanOf course not!
Developing countries cause more damage to the climate because they are still in the developing stage and burn more fossil fuels and have production units so that these countries can match up to the benchmarks set by their developed counterparts. The developing countries, even though rural mainly, cause more drastic climatic changes than developed ones. Because developed countries are just catering to the unlimited wants of its men whereas developing countries are not only doing that but also building their economy, industries, etc.
Posted by: AnonymousMisses the Point
This is a serious problem, and it needs to get under control. Developed countries should pool together to offer foreign countries help with developing green infrastructure and also eliminate famines. There is enough food in the world, and nobody should have to go hungry just for not being able to afford it. A concerted effort to turn developing nations into developed nations through both providing technology as well as actively educating people on how to use and maintain it could solve many major problems. In the end if developing countries keep refusing to budge and if we haven't cut emissions enough then if negotiations fail WAR is a reasonable path to take in order to stop climate change. This could mean the lives of millions of our own citizens, so once we've got our own emissions under control then not cutting emissions can be considered an act of war.
Posted by: MasturDbtorPoverty = Pollution
Why does poverty equal pollution? Most of the third world countries lack strong attention to the environment and additionally care for the inhabitants of the country. Often they are considered lower class citizens. It is logical to assume that countries where education of the people is a priority, as well as living situations, consideration for human life and basic human rights, (right to breathe, eat, drink, and other essential survival functions), plus basic freedoms, such as free will, education, and work, tend to care for their environment better. In Denmark for example a majority of the adult population has a college education. other than the extreme tax rates and the government programs, the Danish are the happiest people. They also are one of the top countries in Europe for cleanliness and care for the environment. According to a 2012 article 24% of electricity in Denmark comes from wind energy. The streets and countryside are also extremely clean. Copenhagen DK is working to ban all vehicles in the city, virtually eliminating most all CO2 emissions. And even though taxes is extremely high it is one of the most well off of all the countries in Europe and the people still have a lot of other freedoms. Most third world countries on the other hand are still developing and are also subject to some of the most extreme tax rates in the world. The governments tend to be oppressive and have disregard for basic human rights, and disregard to basic freedoms. The poor people in these countries tend to have more children and larger families to help with incomes and care for elders and siblings. this places a huge burden on the people but also the environment. According to CNBC Nigeria was ranked the most populated country in Africa and is heavily polluted due to rapid urbanization. World bank reported in 2011 that 53% of the countries population was living below the median poverty line, and ranks 137 out of 180 on the world bank 2011 list for GDP. The U.S. Was ranked 8th and Denmark was ranked 11th.
I would say this is mostly true but obviously not for all cases.Posted by: AnonymousDeveloped countries are not more responsible for damage to the climate.
Developed countries are not more responsible for damage to the climate because most developed countries have strict laws prohibiting pollution or releasing contaminants into the environment. Under United States law, metals may be recovered from high tech products by limited processes which protect the environment. These products are shipped to third world countries without restrictions where the products are heated, burned and the valuable metals melted and extracted. Furthermore, many lesser developed nations use coal or charcoal for heating and cooking on a daily basis. The use of coal or charcoal in developed nations is minimal.
Posted by: jackprague94Not at all
The climate is still within a recoverable damage period. If ALL developed and developing nations immediately ceased all fossil fuel use, we could recover from our CO2 induced environmental damage.
However, China and India, among others, flatly refuse to even cap their CO2 emissions, much less reduce them. The damage that China and India will cause to the environment in the coming decades outweighs what developed nations have done ten-fold.
Before any kind of "compensation" by developed nations can be discussed, all developing countries must completely cut 100% of their fossil fuel based CO2 emissions in favour of clean green energy. Until this happens, no deal.Posted by: AnonymousTruly developed countries, not ones transferring from developing to developed, do more for the environment as far as limiting waste, recycling and banning harmful toxins than poorer nations.
Examples of this are seen by places like the United States, and specifically California, which heavily regulates the amount of pollution and exhaust that cars can spew out. Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa do far less to quell over-pollution than we do. City-wide recycling programs are common throughout the USA, but are not seen at all in most developed or any developing economies on a wide scale.
Posted by: ReminiscentDewitt75No, because undeveloped countries need the money
It seems that people are saying no mainly to protect their country and blame global warming and climate changes on undeveloped countries.
However, I still believe that undeveloped countries are responsible for global warming. At least, partially.
Some people in undeveloped countries live under $1 per day. If someone tells them they'll pay two years worth that money if they chop down the trees and sell wood, you better believe they're gonna chop down the trees. They have kids and wives, families to take care of. So as it's all very fair for developed countries to sit around in their air-conditioned houses to say "Global Warming is bad!", however to look at it from the view of the undeveloped countries, they need the money and it's their only hope.Posted by: AnonymousCome on seriously
There is no way that you should be brainwashed by what someone says might be true and the climate naturally changes, thats a fact. Just because we drive cars doesnt mean that we are going to die. It doesnt matter which country we are talking about, there is no problem to discuss.
Posted by: dcford88