New research at The University of Queensland suggests that economic development may play a vital role in preserving the environment of some Pacific Island countries.
In a study that used carbon dioxide emission intensity as a measure of environmental quality, Associate Professor John Asafu-Adjaye from UQ’s School of Economics investigated how economic growth affected the environment of Pacific Island countries.
Dr Asafu-Adjaye’s research found that as the economy in Kiribati, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands improved carbon dioxide emissions declined.
He said the improvement in environmental quality could be tied to the changes in economic growth supported by factors such as technological advancement, and political and legislative changes.
“In many cases people start to care about the environment because they can afford to,” he said.
“Governments are able to take action through environmental legislation and taxes that would not exist through a lower level of development. Also, improved production methods are adopted at higher levels of economic growth. Basically it comes down to a question of affordability.
“All of these environmental management measures are made easier by a strong and growing economy. If you don’t know where your next meal is going to come from you aren’t concerned about the environment because you are just trying to survive.”
However, Dr Asafu-Adjaye said economic growth and the associated benefits would not solve the environmental problems in these countries alone.
“In order for environmental quality to improve, there has to be an attitude of change,” he said.
“Most important, I think, is effective legislation. That is legislation with teeth. Governments need to be assertive in passing legislation with the appropriate penalties for environmentally damaging behaviour and have the will to strictly enforce them.”
Dr Asafu-Adjaye conducted this research while in Japan as the Visiting Associate Professor with the Research Centre for the Pacific Islands (RCPI) at Kagoshima University.
The results of the research were published in the journal, South Pacific Studies, published by RCPI.
Media: Associate Professor John Asafu-Adjaye (07 3365 6539, j.asafu-adjaye@economics.uq.edu.au) .
