Can protecting the environment hamper developing nations?
By Harry Alford
Guest columnist
The leaders of the free world are preparing to meet next month for the G8 Summit in Scotland to address the most pressing economic and political issues facing the international community.
As this year’s president of the G8, British Prime Minister Tony Blair is pushing for more economic aid to Africa, while also heavily pressuring the United States to support the Kyoto Protocol on global warming. The two goals are largely self-contradictory.
Prime Minister Blair should be commended for making Africa a top priority of the G8 Summit. The current economic and political plight on the African continent is appalling. Helping these countries pull themselves out of staggering poverty and political unrest is imperative.
Debt relief, direct aid, assistance in stabilizing democratic governments in Africa, and increasing trade with African nations are all worthy of the international community’s time and efforts.
The United States already recognizes the importance of assisting African nations. In fact, President Bush and Prime Minister Blair have taken preliminary steps towards debt relief and humanitarian assistance. But there is much more to be done.
The G8’s other priority for this Summit is the Kyoto Treaty. The fundamental problem that the United States has with the Kyoto Protocol is that it is an unworkable energy rationing scheme that will radically slow the growth of the world’s most vibrant economies.
But what ardent Kyoto supporters fail to realize is that this treaty will also limit the economic growth potential of Africa and other developing countries across the globe. Moreover, implementing the treaty will hamstring the economies of the very nations Blair expects to redouble their aid to Africa.
The truth is poverty is the worst polluter. The wealthier a country becomes, the better its environment becomes. For example, the United States is a democratic, industrialized, wealthy nation that spends billions of dollars every year safeguarding our environment. Compared to just a century ago, Americans live longer, our health is better and our environment is cleaner. Thus, assisting emerging nations like those in Africa achieve economic and political freedom is the most effective approach to a cleaner environment.
Environmental issues simply cannot be solved by imposing stringent regulations that stifle innovation and economic development. U.S. leaders understand that achieving more efficient energy use and a cleaner environment are dependent on technological advancements.
But only those countries with the most wealth can afford the research and development dollars necessary to create these new technologies.
Kyoto would handicap strong economies like the United States, Japan, Great Britain, Australia, and the EU. This will create a ripple effect that hurts everyone. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
Prime Minister Blair and other G8 leaders who support the Kyoto Protocol must accept the fact that the United States will never approve this treaty as written. Neither the Bush administration nor Congress will be nudged, pushed or bullied into supporting a world treaty that is detrimental to our economic stability and to the many developing countries in the world. The EU cannot afford to do so either, which is why so many European nations are having second thoughts about implementing the treaty.
If the international community truly wants to help the environment and developing nations like those in Africa, then they need to stop promoting Kyoto and focus on pro-growth strategies that offer hope by building wealth in developing countries.
Harry Alford is the President/ CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce and co-chair of United for Jobs.