Scientific Achievements have Increased Environmental Problems Globally

Climate change has ignited a plethora of thought provoking debates at many forums around the world with leaders of nations pledging to fund programs aimed at reducing hydrocarbon emissions that are destroying the ozone layer. Britain’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Melanie Robinson said that her Prime Minister Mr. Boris Johnson had pledged to double the UK’s investment in helping developing countries combat climate change. She said that the UK has pledged $14.9 billion dollars over the next five years. From that amount, about $1.3 billion dollars will be used to help scientists and engineers develop technologies reduce carbon emissions in developing countries.

This investment, at face value, appears to be completely above board. According to a recent United Nations report, 78 per cent of the tonnes of toxic carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions, which are being discharged into the atmosphere and destroying the ozone layer are from industrialized nations, UK being one among them.

According to these reports, the developing nations are emitting just 22 per cent of these toxic substances.

The British should first reduce the tonnes of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions which they and other developed nations are discharging into the atmosphere before they fund any programs to reduce emissions from developing countries.

William D Rackelshaus, a former administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency once said: “We cannot continue to rely on science and technology to give us a new point of view or solve our environmental problems; for it is science which has actually increased the environmental problems that we face today.”