ASSIGNMENT 01
Module Title: Environmental Economics
Semester 2
Assignment 01
ECS 2606
2
SECTION A
Answer: Question 1
Technological advances since the Industrial Revolution have paved the way for rapid
economic growth which has come at the expense of environmental qual...
63723565 1 ASSIGNMENT 01 Module Title: Environmental Economics Semester 2 Assignment 01 63723565 ECS 2606 2 SECTION A Answer: Question 1 Technological advances since the Industrial Revolution have paved the way for rapid economic growth which has come at the expense of environmental quality. Problems associated with economic growth Pollution Industrial production processes are characterised by the possibility to mitigate emissions, using physical and human capital which allows for an increase in output with the same amount of emissions. Environmental degration is caused by the stock of pollutants which stems from industrial production. Pollution disturbs our ecosystems and the balance in the environment. With modernisation and development in our lives, pollution has reached its peak; giving rise to global warming and human illnesses. There are many forms of environmental pollution namely; air, water, soil, radioactive, noise, heat/thermal and air pollution. Overuse and waste of natural resources Countries industries and farmers waste and inefficiency is the biggest threat to the environment, overtaking pollution. The biggest threat to the environment now is that humanity is overusing the planet as a resource base. Developed economies such as the UK are consuming resources at a rate close to the planets actual capacity. Disincentive to conserve Disincentives are designed to discourage activities that are harmful to the environment. Examples are penalties or pollution taxes. Disincentives are an important tool for ensuring the conservation and sustainable use of resources in the environment. Question 2 Reduce the quantity of goods and services produced . Some people argue that this is the best long-run answer to environmental degradation: reducing output, or at least stopping its rate of growth, would allow a similar change in the quantity of residuals discharged. Some have sought to reach this goal by advocating “zero population growth” (ZPG). But it is certainly true that population growth will often exacerbate the environmental impacts of a particular economy. In the Canadian economy, for example, the emission of pollutants per car has dramatically decreased over the last few decades through better emissions-control technology. But the sheer growth in the number of cars on the highways has led to an increase in the total quantity of certain automobile emissions in many regions, most particularly large cities such as Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through EFT, credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying this summary from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller Tutor23. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy this summary for R63,21. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
