Introduction. Environnement et développement

Abstract

This work discusses elements of the emerging debate over the relationship between the condition of the environment and development and identifies obstacles in the way of improving environmental protection. The 1st topic is the specificity of environmental problems at different levels of development. In the least advanced countries and regions, environmental problems are essentially due directly to the use and management of natural resources. In middle income countries undergoing rapid urbanization, the chief environmental problem is the reliance on technical models that consume comparatively large amounts of natural resources compared with recently developed technologies in use at the international level. In industrialized countries the central question is the impact of economic growth, prevailing technical models, and predominant life styles on the management of natural resources and common spaces. The 2nd topic examines the impact of living conditions and models of technical development on environmental problems and the major challenges to improvement at each of the 3 broad stages of development. In the poorest regions, the technical crisis in management and preservation of natural resources is the central issue, while in middle income countries in question of energy efficiency is central. In industrialized countries, many believe that technical progress cannot significantly reduce environmental degradation without considerable modification of life styles, especially in the areas of transportation, housing and household equipment, and food and nutrition. The 3rd section argues that women and large corporations will necessarily have preponderant roles in bringing about the needed changes. The diversity of cultural perceptions of environmental problems and formation of such perceptions is then examined. The 5th section addresses the evidence for a causal relationship between the pressures of population growth, urbanization, and industrialization an d environmental damage. The final section assesses the human and financial resources that will be necessary to ensure environmental preservation in the context of sustainable development. The work then examines the conditions and means of actions to protect the environment, including the role of public opinion, the interests and desires of nations and large corporations, and contradictions and inconsistencies in the response of the international community to environmental threats. The work concludes by identifying 5 major obstacles to environmental protection including unequal international distribution of scientific and technical knowledge, the weakness of institutions necessary for action, the inadequacy of human and material resources, the slowness and limitations of negotiations concerning the environment, and the need for greater commitment and political will.