Sunny alternative

The huge difference in the consumption of energy between the developed and developing countries has been the most vexing issue in North-south relations over the environment.

Carbon dioxide emissions divide the developed and developing world just as tellingly as energy consumption. In 1992, according to the World Resources Institute, the United States belched out more carbon fumes than any other country -- about 19 tons per person, or 4,881 billion tonnes in total. Developing countries are far down the scale. India, for example, puts out just over one ton per person, or a total of 769 billion tons. Yet, unless pollution crosses borders, corrective measures address the symptoms rather than the causes of the environmental problems. Environmental control remains a largely national agenda. Developed countries are still prone to scoff at the economic and environmental priorities of the south. This was true in Rio, at least in the summit's early stages, as it is in Harare's World Solar commission -- an internationally co-ordinated attempt to tackle the environmental consequences of energy usage at its rot, through the clean alternative of solar power.

As noble as the idea is, however, the commission is well aware of how much goodwill and altruism must exist in the North before solar power can be made to work for the energy-starved developing world. With environmental policy still so nationally oriented, the goodwill and selflessness are not yet forthcoming. Solar power is one of the best ways of not repeating the past mistakes of the industrial North. Rather than provide the means to an end and work towards the transfer of solar technology with minimum cost and hindrance, developed countries often prefer to criticize and point out where developing countries have gone wrong.

Commission vice-president Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad called for a "paradigm shift in energy consumption; from one of simply increasing energy use to that of a more intelligent and efficient use to foster continuing socio-economic growth." The will to share costly resources and aim towards the common good -- for surely a richer and environmentally cleaner developing world would benefit the North as well -- must be in place before solar technology can be widely applied. Instead of lamenting and exploiting the environmental laxity of the developing world, developed countries must learn to give more freely for the good of the planet.

-- The New Straits Times, Kuala Lumpur