Globalization and the Environment: an Introduction

There are many debates on globalization and its effects on the environment and/or sustainable economic growth around the globe. Proponents of globalization argue that it protects the global environment from environmental degradation and promotes sustainable economic growth in the world, especially in developing countries. Opponents, on the other hand, contend that globalization is a threat to sustainable development. According to these opponents, global corporate business enterprises are responsible for environmental catastrophes that hinder sustainable economic growth. This chapter will briefly review the literature on globalization, the environment, and sustainable economic growth. We close with an overview of the book.