Introduction
To promote sustainable development, there is a need to coin both trade and environmental issues because in one way or another they affect each other directly or indirectly. At one point, there exists differing ideologies among those who advocate for environmental protection and those struggling to ensure there is free trade among nations. This in one way or another has affected formulation of environmental protection policies whereby most developed countries enjoy more favors as compared to developing countries (Trade policy, 2009, Para. 1-3).
Hard tasks of economists
Dealing with environmental protection is one of the hardest tasks of economists. This is because, although they accept the importance of free trade, the majority of economists believe breaking the rules of protectionism is the primary way of fully developing free trade. For example, take the case of the launching of missiles by some nations; nations believe the only way of stopping them is by launching too many missiles, to counter the launch, hence effects of national forces on environmental policies. Poor nations are the ones that face the wrath of poor environmental protection policies, which in most cases tend to favor “superior” nations. The gap between the poor and the rich in society keeps on increasing each new dawn, hence the suffering of the most vulnerable groups in society. The majority of trade laws lack the required clauses that will ensure women and children receive the required protection from impacts resulting from economic development. On the other hand, lack of respect for human dignity has made some nations venture into practices that have greatly affected the environment negatively such as destruction of habitats, hence the need for lobby groups to wake up and fight for human rights in terms of environmental protection (Fredriksson, 1999, pp. 513-530).
Trade liberations impact
Currently, the overall trade system is going through many changes associated with bilateral trade liberations. On the other hand, the majority of nations are forming many integrations both internationally and regionally, hence the need to come up with correct environmental policies that will ensure all nations protect the environment. Critical analysis of current existing trade pacts and environmental protection policies adopted by nations show very little correlation. Researchers argue that changes in pollution tax caused by trade liberations are the major cause of increased pollution. One thing both environmentalists and economists fail to account for is the influence of political ideologies on environmental protection policies, and the impacts such decisions have on the survival of humankind. Most trade pacts by countries give less consideration to the existence and well-being of living organisms. In most cases, gains from such trade pacts to the political class play the central role of directing decisions (World trade organization, 1999, p.1).
Although some environmentalists argue that the impacts of the liberation of trade are few, this is never the case. For example, due to the liberation of trade and regional trade amalgamations, the global needs in terms of market demand have caused uncontrolled and unsustainable logging depending on relationships among countries. This is because the majority of other countries have no roles to play in ensuring such countries never adopt those agreements, hence continual environmental degradation. In addition, trade liberations have greatly promoted currently existing habitat distortions because of the monopoly nations enjoy in terms of formulating their environmental protection policies. To such nations, lobby groups have a lesser role to play due to conflicting trade and environmental protection policies (Feridum, Ayadi and Baluoga, 2006, pp.40-49).
Conclusion
In conclusion, although trade liberations have contributed to the economic sustainability of nations in terms of industrial investment and earnings, impacts on environmental well-being are many. Hence, need for the formulation of policies that will promote economic development at the same time ensuring environmental protection.
Reference List
Feridun, M., Balouga, J. & Ayadi, S. F. (2006). Impacts of trade liberations on the environment in developing countries: the case study of Nigeria. Journal of developing sciences, 22(1), pp.39-56.
Fredriksson, P. G. (1999). The political economy of trade liberation and environmental policy. Southern economic journal, 65, pp.513-535.
Trade policy: trade policy conflicts with morally conscious environmental policies. Web.
World Trade Organization. Trade liberation reinforces the need for environmental cooperation. WTO. Web.