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Environmentalism And Poverty

Decent Essays

Market Liberals focus on economic growth and believe in an unregulated free market system with the ability to self regulate through consumer demand. They believe that environmental damages that may stem from economic growth will be corrected once a society is economically satisfied (wealthy) and shift their focus away from financial need. In my opinion, the problem with this philosophy is that in a society that uses overconsumption as a way of comparing wealth and sometimes self worth, the planet would likely be completely depleted of all resources before this group is satisfied. Additionally they don't really have a clear plan for how to alleviate poverty because they blame the existence of poverty on political failures and over regulation. Market liberals tend to minimize environmental impact and claim poverty is the main contributor to environmental degradation.

Institutionalists have similar beliefs to market liberals; however, they focus on the need for institutions to regulate economies and the environment to ensure resources are managed in a way that does not compromise the needs of future generations. They believe we still have time to address our environmental problems. Institutionalists focus on improving living standards while improving the environment (for humans).

Bioenvironmentalists focus on environmental health, believe the earth has a limited carrying capacity and that humans are near or already exceeding it. Overconsumption and population are viewed as

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