In many countries, sectoral economic decisions would be made with little input about their environmental impact and longer-term consequences for the natural resource base. Environmental ministries and institutions would often intervene only after the damage has been done. At the same time, and despite growing affluence for many, there are enormous human problems of widespread poverty and suffering, and a pattern of economic growth that is worsening disparity. Without a doubt, great strides against pollution have been made by OECD countries. On the other hand, economies in transition and developing countries continue to be plagued by pollution and land degradation.
Current trends threaten to make both local and global environmental problems worse.
As the world economy expands, continued use of fossil fuels at current rates will double atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases well before the middle of the next century. Energy use in developing countries could triple over the next 30 years with their share of global energy-related CO 2 emissions increasing from 26 percent in 1985 to 44 percent in 2025, assuming of course that the anticipated demand will be met by conventional energy means. As last year drew to a close, people the world over gained a deeper appreciation of our economic and environmental interdependence. Starting in Asia's newly industrialized nations, falling stock markets followed the sun, producing record declines in Japan, Europe, and the Americas. In Southeast Asia, during the same period, forest fires raged for weeks, spreading smoke across six countries and adversely affecting the health of more than 70 million people.