Environmental Issues in South East Asia - Research Paper Example

Running head: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN SOUTH EAST ASIA Environmental Issues in South East Asia Insert Insert Grade Insert November 12, 2011 OUTLINE 1. Introduction -Thesis statement 2. Countries and industries in South East Asia 3. Environmental issues and their causes in Southeast Asia 4. The environmental management and protection measures 5. Reasons for persistent environmental problems in ASEAN region 6. Conclusions 7. Works cited Environmental issues in South East Asia 1. Introduction The issue of environmental management and protection is receiving increasing consideration in the local as well as the global scenes. Different environmental problems are experienced in different parts of the world. Most of these environmental issues arise due to the activities of man aimed at generating income. The economic activities that individuals undertake in different parts of the world greatly contribute to the global environmental issues that are currently witnessed. These include activities like mining and lumbering that deform the landscape of a given region and damage its natural ecological system. This has significant impacts on the biodiversity in the region. Increased industrialization, especially in the developed nations is a major cause of environmental pollution. The operations of other business organizations like those in the transportation industry also contribute significantly to destruction of the environment. Solid waste products from such business organizations that are poorly disposed of can be a serious threat to the health of the individuals in a given society. In order to manage the situation, governments at local, regional, and international levels have developed initiatives to protect the environment. There are various legal provisions to govern the operations of individuals and business organizations to ensure that the environment is protected. The Southeast Asia is one of the regions of the world that experience serious environmental problems. The countries in the Southeast Asia include Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, among many others. These are not fully developed countries, though they are in the process of industrialization. Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia are among the Asian countries that are termed late-industrializers (Zysman & Doherty, 4). The countries have recorded significant increase in economic growth since the mid 1990s. This increased industrialization has associated environmental challenges. The region experiences different forms of air pollution like smoke and haze, water pollution, hazardous materials, deforestation, soil erosion, and soil degradation. The governments in most of these countries have instituted measures to prevent these environmental challenges. However, there are still discrepancies in certain cases and environmental problems are still encountered in different regions in the country. This paper focuses on some of the initiatives that have been taken by the governments and other agencies in this region to manage the environment as well as why there have been failures in certain cases. -Thesis statement Serious environmental problems are still being experienced in the Southeast Asia. Even though there have been efforts to manage environmental issues, illegal business practices, corrupt nature of some agency officials and weak political forces have contributed to continued depletion of the environmental resources in the Southeast Asian countries. 2. Countries and industries in South East Asia It ha been pointed out that the Southeast Asian countries are among the less developed countries in Asia that are currently in the process of industrialization. They include Cambodia, Brunet Darussalam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, and Myanmar. These countries are not as industries as Asian countries like Japan and China. The countries can take pride in the low political temperatures that have been seen in most of them over the recent past. The neighboring countries that constitute the Middle East countries like Iraq, Iran, or Syria have witnessed political revolutions that have significant impact on the economic development of the nation. Industrialization in the Southeast Asian countries began in the second half of the twentieth century. Various industries are available in the Southeast Asia countries. The cotton textile industry had been developed in the region way back before the 1950s (Clarence-Smith, 17). Agricultural industries are common in the countries like Myanmar and Cambodia whereas countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, and Philippines have manufacturing industries (Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 358). 3. Environmental issues and their causes in Southeast Asia Different environmental problems are experienced in different parts of the world. The key environmental issues in different countries in the Southeast Asia include seasonal smoke and haze, soil erosion/degradation, water pollution (water-borne diseases), air pollution, loss of biodiversity, deforestation, poor access to clean water, pollution from solid waste, hazardous materials and hazardous wastes (Chapter 17, 354). Water and air pollution are common in the urban and informal settlement settings where there industries and poor waste disposal mechanisms. The issue of intense smog over Southeast Asia has attracted the attention of once attracted the attention of the media houses alongside other issues like El Nino and global warming (Sreenivasan, 6). Poor access to clean water is becoming a serious problem in many of the ASEAN countries. It has been projected that by 2025, some countries in the Southeast Asia like Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Philippines will experience serious water shortages (Key, 2009). As is evidenced, most of the environmental problems are caused by human activities that do not consider conservation of the natural resources. The major cause of these environmental problems is the Asian economic crisis that has promoted destructive activities like overfishing, deforestation, activities contributing to water and air pollution (Key, para.1). Increased agrarian revolution with poor farming systems has led to clearing of forests leading to desertification on several parts of the region. Logging and agricultural expansion are some human activities that contribute significantly to deforestation (Kumar & Turner II, 324). The resulting consequences are low rainfalls and soil degradation due to erosion. Air pollution is mainly common in the urban regions with smokes from industries. The automotive industry also contributes to air pollution through emission of toxic hydrocarbons into the atmosphere. Industrial effluents that get their way into large water bodies and the practice of excessive fishing are a strong threat to aquatic life degrading the region’s biodiversity. Lack of skilled labor could also lead to increased environmental problems. Most of the countries in Southeast Asia like Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia experience shortage of skilled and unskilled workers (Gross, para3). This reflects negatively on the environmental management initiatives that may be adopted by manufacturing companies in the region. 4. The environmental management and protection measures The governments, local and international agencies often advocate for environmental management initiatives. Similar initiatives have been witnessed in the efforts to protect the environment in the Southeast Asian countries. Most of the countries have developed policies at national levels to protect the environment. The countries have developed National Environmental Action Plans with active coordination and cooperation of the policies (Chapter 17, 357). The countries have proper legislation to ensure protection and conservation of the environment though the enforcements of these provisions have not been very effective. Business organizations are required by the provisions to perform an environmental impact assessment of their operations and consider environmental management as one of their key responsibilities in the society. Similarly, there are initiatives at regional levels that involve the cooperation of different government agencies to protect the environment in the region. The countries have a long history of showing concern on environmental management since the development of the first subregional environment program in 1977 (Chapter 17, 357). They have been working together on research and development initiatives to get better environmental management mechanisms. For instance, the countries have understood the gravity of air pollution by the automotive industry. Through research, the countries have adopted use of biofuel obtained from palm oil, which is friendlier to the environment than the oil and gas fuels (International Finance Corporation, para.1). The initiative does not only improve environmental management efforts but also provides other benefits like employment opportunities to the natives of the region. This improves on the economy and contributes indirectly to prolonged conservation of the environment. However, it may have negative implications for the poor in the society (International Finance Corporation, para.1). Various companies in the regions have also taken environmental management as protection as one of their key responsibilities. This has been witnessed at CUEL Limited, accompany that provides construction services in the oil and gas industry in Thailand and the neighboring countries in the Asia Pacific region. The organization is committed to contributing positively towards development in the regions in which they operate through demonstrating their corporate social responsibility. The company pledged to provide employment to the local people and promote environmental management initiatives for the benefits of the Thais (Euro Asia Industry, para.17). This has been evidenced as much of the organization’s workforce is drawn from the locals. 5. Reasons for persistent environmental problems in ASEAN region It has been observed that various initiatives have been instituted in the Southeast Asian countries to manage the environmental problems. However, the problems have not been fully eliminated due to certain factors. Firstly, advanced environmental management policies have been developed in different countries of this subregion with proper mechanisms for coordinating the policy responses. Many of the countries in the region have developed National Environmental Action Plans. However, most of the countries still lack the capacity to enhance the implementation and delivery of the policy targets owing to the poor financial management and strict system of governance (Chapter 17, 357). The situation can be corrected through adopting less strict bureaucratic processes that bar the implementation efforts and improving on the budget. In fact, some scholars have observed that market and policy failures are the key causes of environmental problems (Rogers, 2269). Factors like poverty and rapid population growth become causes of environmental degradation because of poor policy implementation. Illegal business practice is another factor contributing to continued environmental challenges in the Southeast Asian countries. It should be noted that many of these countries have legislation for environmental management and protection with excellent control mechanisms. However, the countries lack the capacity to enforce and monitor the adherence to these provisions (Chapter 17, 357). Individuals and business organizations still engage in illegal activities that have negative impacts on the environment. It has been noted that activities like blast fishing and forest clearing through fire are illegal practices in the Southeast Asian countries and yet these activities are still practiced in different parts of the region (Chapter 17, 357). The increasing global demands for some products have also contributed significantly to environmental degradation in the region. The region is a chief exporter of marine and forestry products ad has been in the business industry over a long period. One of the chief exports that have significant environmental implication is live fish, which is far much more valuable than dead fish. Due to its increasing demand and good value, the fishermen opt more for live catches. The challenge is that the means of fishing preferred by local anglers for live catch is cyanide poisoning that has serious effects on the aquatic life (Chapter 17, 357). Players in the modern industrial sector often have environmental management mechanisms as one of their objectives. The implementation of the same is, however, difficult for small business entities like local fishermen. The other problem stems from the underdeveloped public administration system in most parts of the region. Environmental management is a collective development initiative that should involve different stakeholders in the society including the non-governmental organizations, faith based organizations and the members of the public. However, the idea of involving the members of the public in the decision-making process is just beginning to evolve among many countries in the Southeast Asia (Chapter 17, 357). There is poor coordination between the players like nongovernmental organizations and the government agencies to enhance effective program and policy delivery. Increased industrialization and subsequent increased urbanization is also another challenge. Most of these countries high population growth rate leading to increased demand for facilities like clean water sources. The increased industrialization and urban population leads to water pollution through untreated sewage, domestic waste, and industrial effluents (Key, 2009). There is increased pressure on governments and local authorities to improve on the infrastructural facilities in these urban settings. Similarly, there are initiatives at the regional levels concerned with environmental management. The combined efforts to promote environmental protection are effected through measures like the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Senior Officials on the Environment (ASOEN), Other Sub-regional Cooperation Programs, and International Programs and Projects (Chapter 17, 358). This requires a mechanism for proper coordination and cooperation among these agencies. Even though economic growth has had positive impacts in the regions, it has also led to loss of the region’s natural capital through the depletion of the ecological system. The regions remain challenged to adopt development measures focusing on environmental goals and objectives. 6. Conclusions Environmental issues remain a global concern with both local and international agencies advocating seriously on environmental protection mechanisms. It becomes a global concern because the environmental issues emanating from one region on the globe can extend its effects onto the global scene. In effect, governments at the local and international levels have jointly developed policies and initiatives to ensure environmental protection. Most of the countries have environmental management agencies that ensure the implementation of the policies is smooth. The environmental problems mainly stem from irresponsible human activities aggravated by economic and financial crises that have been experienced in the past. The governments attempt to these members of the public in developing initiatives to manage the problems. Southeast Asia has these environmental issues stemming from industrial and agrarian revolution. Serious attempts have been made to protect the environment in these regions. The governments have developed policies and legal provisions at national and subregional levels to promote protection of the environment. However, there are still deficiencies in the implementation and enforcements of the legal provisions due to poor bureaucratic leadership and financial constraints in certain cases. Thus, despite the efforts that have been shown by governments in the Southeast Asian countries, environmental problems remain a challenge in most of these countries. Works Cited Chapter 17: Introduction shared environmental problems. N.d. 12 November 2011. http://www.unescap.org/esd/environment/soe/2000/documents/CH17.PDF Clarence-Smith, W. The cotton textile industries of Southeast Asia and Bantu Africa, 1840s to 1950s. 1978. 12 November 2011. http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:Lr5jEJb9F70J:www2.lse.ac.uk/economicHistory/Research/GEHN/GEHNPDF/Clarence-SmithGEHN5.pdf+industries+in+southeast+asia&hl=en&gl=ke&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESh3x1nClHVw_kX-PVm4kXmopxme20NWrEQCL8PdDdEP4Vg4fqzxBYkko6reYweTW2rcq-0MCd4_umAhfOVd7sc78U2HhmOnIdOhDJuOUOct4SI4MGXjGF5IbopyIjdFS0bmSGjg&sig=AHIEtbQ2Z0-uS9tOubrSeJjQO9fbdLKW0A&pli=1 Euro Asia Industry. CUEL Limited: A reputation for Quality. 2009. 12 November 2011. http://www.euroasiaindustry.com/page/162/A-Reputation-for-Quality Gross, Ames. Human Resource Issues in Southeast Asia. International HR Journal. 1997. 12 November 2011. http://www.pacificbridge.com/publication.asp?id=56 Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. Southeast Asia transformed: a geography of change. Pasir Panjang: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. 2003 International Finance Corporation. Southeast Asia’s Green Energy Industry Fuels Employment. 2006. 12 November 2011. http://ifcblog.ifc.org/emergingmarketsifc/2006/08/southeast_asias.html Key, Hernadi. 6 Major Environmental Problems of Asia. 2009. 12 November 2011. http://hernadi-key.blogspot.com/2009/02/6-major-environmental-problems-of-asia.html Kummer, David M and Turner II, B.L. The human causes of deforestation in Southeast Asia. BioScience, 44.5 (1994); 323-328. 12 November 2011. http://www.public.asu.edu/~bturner4/Kummer&Turner.pdf Rodgers, Peter. The environment in Southeast Asia: problems and policies. Environmental Science and Technology 27.12, (1993); 2269–2269. 12 November 2011. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es00048a001 Sreenivasan, Sreenath. Taking In the Sites; Environmental Issues Are Clarified. New York Times, 10/27/1997, p6. 12 November 2011. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/27/business/taking-in-the-sites-environmental-issues-are-clarified.html?src=pm Zysman, John & Doherty, Eileen. The Evolving Role of the State in Asian Industrialization. Working paper 84. 1995. 12 November 2011. http://brie.berkeley.edu/publications/WP%2084.pdf Read More