What is Green Imperialism!

As defined by Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Malaysia's deputy finance minister, at the World Economic Forum on east Asia; green imperialism is the hypocrisy of rich countries wherein they exploit the natural resources including human beings in developing Asian and African economies, later blame them for worsening climate change and other environmental crisis.

Eco-imperialism violates the developing countries people’s most basic human rights by denying them economic opportunities, the chance for a better livelihood. The environmental movement has repeatedly used the alleged threat of global eco-catastrophe like, global warming, to override the wishes of people who most desperately need energy and progress.

The imperialism may need not necessarily spring from the first world, against the third world. Or even from the economical developments to environmentally deprived. But also among two groups of stake holders in natural resources. A dam project was halted abruptly in India, after eco-activists pressured international lending agencies to withdraw financial support. The construction of dam was claimed to be stopped because it would change the path of the river, kill little creatures along its banks and uproot tribal people in the area. But the cancellation of the expected project has denied electricity for 5,000 villages; low-cost renewable power for industries and sewage treatment plants; irrigation water for crops; and clean drinking water for 35 million people. This controversial issue further deepened the debate on sharing of natural resources and policy concerns involved in dispute solving mechanisms.

The environmental organisations and activists in developing nations claim that west has been the high margin polluter, while the notions in the west is that Asia's energy consumption is relatively disproportionate to its contribution to the world economy. In 2006, China overtook the United States in carbon emissions by about 7.5%, according to the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency's report.

Now with the recession fears in the United States and partially evident shift in global power equations, the developments in environmental imperialism and diplomatic stands of emerging economies will be an engaging debate.

This blog will monitor the media content and policy initiatives in Environmental diplomacy from grass root politics to international debates.