Asia Could Lead World in Clean
Revolution, U.S. Official Tells International Forum
By Glen PerkinsonPublished in The Bureau
of National Affairs, Inc., August 5, 1998
BANGKOK - Asia is standing on the precipice of a "clean revolution"
which could see it leading the world in environmentally friendly industry, a U.S. official
said July 28.
According to Kathleen McGinty, chair of the United States Council on Environmental
Quality, economic recovery and environmentally sustainable industrial development are
"compatible goals."
"And they are not just compatible goals," she said, "they are the same
goals. If we forsake one, we forsake the other. But, if we pursue one, we can pursue the
other."
McGinty made these comments at a policy forum here that was convened to debate the
compatibility in Asia of recovery of its crisis-torn economies with environmentally
sustainable industrial development.
McGinty, an adviser to President Bill Clinton, said the United States would back Asia
in its bid to restore the "vitality" of its economies. However, she warned the
250 participants in the forum that they must be aware of how economic factors shape
environmental policy and protection.
McGinty was among several keynote speakers who gathered at Bangkoks oldest
university, Chulalongkorn, to debate environment-policy issues affecting Asian nations as
they seek to re-float their sinking economies.
The forum also saw the launching of the Greening of Industry Network-Asia (GIN-Asia).
The organization intends to be "an important policy and information resource for
regional governments" in their quest to implement environmentally sound economic and
industrial policies," Peter Kimm, executive director of the United States-Asia
Environmental Partnership (US-AEP), said July 28.
GIN is a grouping of three international universities environment faculties and
the US-AEP. The universities are Chulalongkorn in Asia, Twente of the Netherlands in
Europe, and Clark in the United States.
McGinty said economic growth cannot be balanced against environmental protection.
"They are inextricably linked. They are mutualtwo sides of the same coin, if
you like. We cannot count on one if we do not provide for the other. And the converse is
truesacrifice one and we endanger the other.
"No less is true even in an economic crisis," she told the conference.
"Environmental protection is not a luxury. That would be a dangerous temptation to
fall into."
Avoid Mistakes U.S. Made
She recalled how U.S. industry had seen product quality as a luxury it could not afford
in the 1970s and how this had lead to the automobile and steel industries demise.
Asia has to avoid that attitude and apply the same philosophy it had over quality in
competitiveness to the environment.
"Environmental protection in the 21st century will be of strategic and competitive
importance for industry," she said. "It is time for the countries of this region
to dedicate themselves to building environmental capital."
The current economic crisis in the region is an opportunity for Asia to build
"sustainable industry and sustainable growth," she added.
McGinty encouraged Asia to introduce "transparent" environmental policies in
order to motivate business to meet standards. She said the United States has benefitted
from its "right-to-know legislation which put the polluters in the spotlight and
demanded the adherence to emission and materials and energy usage standards."
However, in meeting right-to-know requirements, she said, many companies have noticed an
improvement in their economic performance.
Kick-Off for Clean Revolution
Kimm told the conferences plenary session that GIN-Asia is "the kick-off for
the clean revolution in Asia." He said GIN and the US-AEP intend to "have an
effect and have input" into the problem of environmentally sustainable industrial
development in the region.
David Angel, graduate studies dean at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts,
told the conference that by 2020, Asia will generate between 55 percent and 60 percent of
the worlds industrial output.
Already the region produces airborne pollution and twice the worlds average and
five times that of countries belonging to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development and greenhouse gas emissions at 20 times the OECD level, Angel said. Asia is
not on track for "clean revolution," he said, adding that Asian nations have
made strides in cutting energy consumption but not in curbing pollution.
Angel said Asia can expect a 13-fold increase in industrial production in the next 30
years. It needs to grab this "once in a lifetime opportunity to leverage the proceeds
of new investment to the clean revolution," he added.
With 85 percent of the projected investment in industry yet to be spent, he said, it is
"urgent to act now to influence this investment to ensure that every piece of new
investment has the potential to be cleaner and greener."
The greatest advantage big business would reap in adopting environmentally efficient
industry is that it would be able to meet the current, yet growing, demand for clean
products. "Those that embrace the new technology will create competitive advantages
for themselves," he told the conferences plenary session.
McGinty added that Asian citizens could ensure a cleaner environment, with economic
prosperity, by demanding adequate public disclosure of manufacturings environmental
performance. "As Asia emerges from this economic crisis it will be stronger,"
she said. "It can lead the worlds economies again but also as a region with a
stronger environment." . |