Lack of action on environmental matters at a global level many times centers on the equity dilemma, “Why should I do anything when my neighbor isn’t?”  As a native of Asuncion, Paraguay - capital city of this small land-locked country in South America, I am very familiar with the argument.  Paraguay, overall, has an economy distinguished by a large informal sector and agricultural activity. Per capita GDP estimates vary widely (CIA Factbook has it at $5,500, number 147th in the world).  Production of hydroelectric power is also a major component of the economy, with two of the world’s largest hydroelectric dams located along its borders with Brazil (Itaipu) and Argentina (Yacyreta).  Half of the power generated by these dams is “Paraguayan”, but given its small population and industrial base, a majority of this power gets sold back to Brazil and Argentina at heavily discounted prices. The economy has grown and diversified rapidly in recent years.  Prospects for the future are relatively bright, due in large part to the industrialization of agriculture, mineral extraction, and sale of electric power at higher prices.  

Walking the streets of Asuncion - economic disparity is blatantly obvious.  In the “Las Carmelitas” shopping district and surrounding neighborhoods, for example, the growing middle class and well-to-do live the good life - lacking nothing their wealthier northern hemisphere neighbors enjoy.  Large houses/apartments/condominiums with tennis courts and swimming pools (and cheap domestic help to help maintain & clean), shopping malls, restaurants, Irish pubs and Japanese sushi bars, ice cream parlors, etc. - all give the impression that the economic party is just beginning. However, poverty reigns supreme all around.  Kids, some as young as 8 years of age, sell pretty much anything at street corners.  Crime is rampant.  Security is such a great concern that many homeowners install electric fences to protect their property.  Public municipal services are severely lacking.  In the mother of all ironies, in Paraguay, with the highest electric generation rate per capita in the world, electric blackouts are common - due to poor distribution lines from the generation centers to the urban areas.

Given all this, the cry for industrialization, diversification and modernization of the economy, at all costs, is loud and clear.  Paraguay's government is now seeking to attract energy-intensive industries to the country.  The Rio Tinto Alcan aluminum smelter plant is one of many attempts to achieve this goal.  The problem? Huge environmental impact, deforestation, destruction of natural habitats, etc.  Essentially, the US and Europe’s Industrial Revolution, all compacted into a decade or two.  

Ultimately, what is the duty of a poor country in protecting the environment and conserving its resources?  Does it meet the same threshold as it would in the industrialized world?  When huge sectors of the population lack basic essentials for life, education, water, sewer, access to health services - government must do all it can to expedite improvements in quality of life to its citizens.  Unfortunately, this comes at a cost - degradation of the global environment and depletion of natural resources worldwide.  A poor Paraguayan would say, “The US has developed and destroyed all of its “tall-grass prairie” ecosystem in the name of “economic development” and now they’re rich, why don’t we have a right to do the same - we need it so much more than they do?

Can the pursuit for global sustainability “People, Planet, Prosperity” world-wide be achieved without addressing the “prosperity” side of the equation in the developing world? Developing countries (middle income countries and lower), need help, access to technology and capital for investments in green technologies, ecotourism, etc - so resources are protected and citizens gain better access to global resources.  Developing countries need loans/grants to fast track ‘green energy economies’, or global environment will suffer.  Is this global socialism, or global sharing of wealth?  Let others rule on this one.  Is it necessary - absolutely.

We’re all in this together, if we want to take care of our home planet, ensure people have access to essentials for an improved quality of life, and grow our economies, we need to lend a helping hand to all of our neighbors.

Otherwise, it’s all just greenwashing.