The best I could do was Australia. Australia, while a civilized nation, is not a hugely industrial nation, but I do believe it meets the qualifications Professor Rozier was looking for. Australia cannot afford to tax its environment as it is in such a precarious position already. Australia's extreme climates are prone to drought, and its seasonal effects also wreak havoc with the nation. As an island, they must be particularly careful of rising sea levels and the natural disasters which can occur as a result of climate change.
Any thoughts? Other countries, why Australia doesn't work?
One country I thought was a great example of industrialization without environmental degradation was Costa Rica. Costa Rica is one of the most stable countries in Latin America and not only boasts a stable economy and decent education system, it consistently ranks highly as one of the happiest countries in the world. So why Costa Rica, and also, why not other Latin American countries? I think Costa Rica stands out because thanks to good leadership, the country was able to identify early that ecotourism could result in millions of dollars for the country. The country has lush rainforests as well as pristine beaches, and by taking care of them, the country has been able to greatly grow its economy. This isn't to say though that Costa Rica doesn't have its mistakes. Due to such heavy traffic in ecotourism, the country has difficulty preserving sites that thousands of people are visiting each year.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of Australia, I'd agree that the country has done a fairly good job sustaining it's environment while industrializing. This country, along with New Zealand, are both good examples I think.