The Impact of Globalization on Developing Countries
The advent of globalization facilitated the improvement of relations between developing and developed countries. Improvement in trade between developing and developed countries in the 21st century can be attributed to globalization. As a relevant concept, globalization refers to the process by which business institutions and state factors achieve international influence overseas. The term refers to the steps which have been taken by the various organizations to achieve increased success by engaging external parties. While globalization has played a crucial role in streamlining growth for the involved stakeholders, the concept has also inspired significant detriments in the society. Given the translocation of businesses from the developed countries to developing countries, increased environmental degradation. Overall, globalization is responsible for creating pollution havens in developing countries.
Impact on Air Pollution
First, the introduction of factories in developing countries by international investors has led to increased release of toxic fumes in air. Production activities that are undertaken within the factories result in gaseous residue which is often expelled into the atmosphere. Such trend serves to foster a pollution haven. In examining the release of toxic fumes in air as a result of globalization, Meng et al. (2016) consumption-based emission is a culmination of the translocation of industries from developed countries to underdeveloped regions (p.12). The expansion is often pegged on the need for the given companies to maintain competitive advantage over their rivals. Such factories also seek to capitalize on the lax environmental policies in developing countries (Levinson and Taylor 2008, p.231). Baek et al (2008, p.4) also reveal that developing countries tend to formulate looser standards of environmental regulations to attract foreign investment. Given the loopholes, the factories are not subject to limiting policies which regulate their consumption of the given products. Pollution havens are manifested when there is absence of succinct policies to protect against environmental abuse by the arriving business franchises. Overall, release of toxic materials into air by international business outfits in developing countries serves to foster pollution havens.
Impact on Water Pollution
Meng et al (2016, P.14) report that globalization has led to the separation between production and consumption of goods and services. In essence, this means that goods and services may not be consumed in the same country they have been produced in. This creates a shift in energy consumption and associated environmental pressures among countries. Developing countries have been on the forefront of importing secondhand vehicles which have proven to be hazardous to the environment. Edwards (207, p.1) reports that regulation of flow of secondhand cars to developing countries is crucial but has been largely ignored. The imported vehicles, which mainly consume diesel fuels, end up creating pollution havens in those developing countries. This is because the cars emit high levels of pollution which lead to negative health and environmental impacts linked to climate change and respiratory conditions (Edwards, 2017, p.1). Similarly, freshwater reservoirs have been at the risk of pollution due to the lack of investigation of whether imported products are related to water depletion or pollution in producing countries (Hoekstra and Mekonnen, 2012, p.3232). This means that imported products may excite adverse environmental effects especially to freshwater reservoirs. This translates to significant populations being exposed to poisoned or polluted waters, causing a myriad of harmful diseases in the developing nations. Rudra (2016, p.1) reveals that as a result of globalization, many developing countries have experienced cities swelling with overpopulation. Due to poor infrastructural architecture and lack of formulated policies to guide construction, many cities end up lacking efficient sewerage systems. This has also led to poor waste disposal techniques, which result to unsafe and threatened water resources. It is further revealed that unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation in developing cities in developing countries has contributed the rise of water pollution mortalities. At least 1.7 million people die yearly due to poor sanitation. In the developing countries, 80% of the occurring illnesses have been attributed to the lack of basic sanitation ("Water in Developing Countries"). This proves that globalization has had significant adverse effects in the developing countries. This is because the created pollution havens have been responsible for shocking mortalities in those countries.
Impact on Ocean Pollution
Globalization has been responsible for amicable trades between developed and developing countries. In recent times, the developing countries in Asia have sought to import plastic wastes from developed countries such as U.S for recycling (Clarke and Howard, 2018, p.1). In the year 2018, Thailand has imported 4000 metric tons of plastic waste from the U.S. Malaysia has seen a 273% increase in plastic waste importation to 157,299 metric tons, while Vietnam imported 71, 220 tons. While the importation of plastics gives these countries an opportunity of foreign exchange, this is done at the expense of the countries' environmental well-being. Clarke and Howard (2018, p.1) report that plastic processing firms have been forced to shut down in Malaysia due to air and water degradation. Similarly, McVeigh (2018) reveals that the Asian countries which have imported plastic waste from Western countries have struggled with the processing of those waste plastics. It is further revealed that the plastic waste is channeled to rivers and oceans, thus polluting the water ecosystems in those countries. This evidences that globalization has been a key factor in the creation of pollution havens in the developing countries. Berezow (2018, p.1) reveals that 88 -95 percent pollution of oceans came from ten rivers, of which eight were in Asia and two in Africa. This shows that globalization has had a negative toll on developing countries, and has led to the promotion of pollution in those countries, leading to a global impact since polluted oceans continue to affect the globe.
Conclusion
Globalization has brought tremendous advantages to developing countries. Despite the reaping of globalization benefits by these countries, detrimental effects have also been registered. Developing countries have suffered due to globalization, especially in terms of air and water quality. The swelling of urban centers with populations has led to poor sanitation as well as lack of safe drinking water. The industrialization of developing countries has also led to the production of toxic fumes to the environment. Air pollution has also been promoted by the importation of secondhand cars which emit harmful gases. Pollution havens have also been created in rivers and oceans in developing countries. In order to curtail the rise of adverse effects excited by pollution havens, developing countries should seek to formulate policies which aim at ensuring that water, air, and environmental pollution is minimized.
References
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Clarke, J 2018. “US Plastic Waste Exports to Developing Countries, Causing Environmental Problems at Home and Abroad.” Global Research. Accessed 14 November 2018 from <https://www.globalresearch.ca/us-plastic-waste-exports-to-developing-countries-causing-environmental-problems-at-home-and-abroad/5657145
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Levinson, A., & Taylor, M. S. 2008. “Unmasking the pollution haven effect.” International economic review, vol. 49, n0.1, pp. 223-254.
McVeigh, K 2018. “Huge rise in US plastic waste shipments to poor countries following China ban.” Accessed 14 November 2018 from https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/oct/05/huge-rise-us-plastic-waste-shipments-to-poor-countries-china-ban-thailand-malaysia-vietnam
Meng, J, Liu, J., Xu, Y., Guan, D., Liu, Z., Huang, Y., Tao S 2016. “Globalization and pollution: tele-connecting local primary PM2.5 emissions to global consumption.” Proceeding of the Royal Society a Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, vol.472, no.3, is. 2195. Pp. 1-5.
