TITLE:
Reflections on the Green Economy (Redemption of the Principles of Mill and Pigou): A View of a Brazilian Environmentalist
AUTHORS:
João Batista Drummond Câmara
KEYWORDS:
Principles of Environmental Economics, Green Economy, Sustainable Development, Productions and Consumption Patterns, Environmental Services, Anthropogenic Footprint
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Environmental Protection,
Vol.5 No.12,
September
24,
2014
ABSTRACT: The
current context of global efforts in the pursuit of sustainable development can
be characterized by the perception of the scientific-technological losses of
ecosystems and ecosystem services and their consequences for the survival of
humanity in the face of threats of imbalances in the basic conditions for
survival such as food production, the environmental quality, natural control of
pests and diseases, loses of biodiversity and climate changes. Some recent
initiatives at global, regional and local level are pointed and some conceptual
trends and deployment strategies advance towards the consolidation of the
principles of sustainable development, despite several difficulties for
effectively reaching its goals. The trend of gradual changes in the models of
developing nations and in the patterns of production and consumption is
portrayed objectively, seeking to correlate with principles of environmental
economics and green economy, since Cecil Pigou and Stuart Mill principles to
recent researches as Kenneth Boulding, Herman Daly, Nicholas Georgescu-Rogen, Franz
Capra, Ignacy Sachs, Edgar Morin, beyond others. The ability of the United
Nations and governments to intervene in neoliberal logic aiming wider benefit
to society and the reduction of the negative effects of market distortions, as
striking on the global stage, represents a true redemption of the principles
advocated by Cecil Pigou, at the beginning of the last century, both for the
global economy and for their effects on environmental and social conflicts,
social exclusion resulting from the current economic systems which are not
necessary new strategies, principles, or economic formulas, but decision making
to tackle the market with seriousness to promote equity, social justice and
environmental sustainability, without sacrificing progress and development, as
evident in the current discussion of social inclusion and the convergence of
individual and collective interests, so far in the development model based on
increasing production and consumption, yet with little environmental
responsibility.