About that 'Kenyan worldview'...........

[marmar]

from OnTheCommons.org:




Looking South for Environmental Progress
Kenya's new constitution is more proof that we can learn from the developing world

By Jay Walljasper


There’s a nagging misconception that all significant environmental progress begins in wealthy nations, which then shoulder the noble task of aiding and arm-twisting poor nations to do their share in taking care of the planet.

While it’s true that limited financial resources hinder environmental protection throughout Latin America, Africa and Asia, it’s not at all accurate to paint the developed nations as green and developing ones as a brown splotch of ecological ruination.

Indeed, looking at per capita rates of greenhouse and toxic emissions, you might think just the opposite—the overdeveloped nations of the world need to follow the example of their poor neighbors to the south, which dump far fewer pollutants into the global commons. After all, these are the places where precious biodiversity, rainforests and other ecological treasures still exist— the natural ecosystems of Europe and North American were largely ravaged a century ago.

But the developing world doesn’t simply do less of what’s wrong they also have taken some bold steps in embracing a greener future.

Curitiba, Brazil, for instance, pioneered Bus Rapid Transit—a low cost alternative to subways that are now being built in Los Angeles, New York, Houston, Montreal, Vancouver, Paris, Stockholm and across China. Bogotá, Colombia, made substantial improvements on BRT and breakthroughs in bike transportation that are now being studied around the world. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://onthecommons.org/looking-south-environmental-progress