The Growing Inequality Among Countries and the Worsening Climate Crisis

Many poor countries are stuck in a cycle that’s hard to break. They are promised that if they follow certain rules—like taking out loans, cutting government spending, and building export industries—they’ll become wealthy. But in reality, most fall deeper into debt. Meanwhile, rich countries and corporations continue to grow their wealth.

This unfair system is made worse by climate change. Rich countries became powerful by using fossil fuels like oil and coal, which caused pollution and global warming. Now, they expect poor countries to fight climate change without offering enough support. Rich nations promised $100 billion a year to help poorer ones go green, but they’ve delivered much less.

At the same time, the world’s economy depends on important minerals—like lithium and cobalt—that are mostly found in poor countries. Rich nations want these resources to power electric cars and clean energy, but often try to get them cheaply, continuing a pattern of exploitation now called “green colonialism.”

Some developing countries are trying to fight back. They want fair prices for their resources and stronger rights over how they are used. Others are choosing to protect nature, like Ecuador, where people voted to keep oil in the ground. These countries believe we need a new economic system—one that’s fair, reduces pollution, and helps everyone, not just the rich.

The main message is this: the way we’ve done things in the past—using lots of energy and resources without thinking about the planet—isn’t working. Rich countries must take the lead in reducing their consumption and supporting others. If we want a better future, we need to fix the global system and make it work for everyone, not just a lucky few.

Read the full article “The Growing Inequality Among Countries and the Worsening Climate Crisis” by John Feffer

🔭   This summary was human-edited with AI-assist.