A Healthy Environment: Human Health versus Environmental protection- dilemmas for policy makers

Principle 1 of the Rio Declaration says that human beings are at the centre for sustainable development. However this is not reflected in the policy agenda on environmental protection. Environmental problems, notably air... [ view full abstract ]

Principle 1 of the Rio Declaration says that human beings are at the centre for sustainable development. However this is not reflected in the policy agenda on environmental protection. Environmental problems, notably air pollution, has been at the centre  of research, and policies, and much less attention has been paid to human health especially in poor countries. A dilemma for policy makers is whether poverty alleviation must come before environmental protection given the immediacy of committing resources for the production of food and provision of shelter. Perceptions of policy makers differ from people in poverty although poor people are at greater risk of damage from environmental degradation. This paper seeks to examine the issues surrounding the above dilemma and to explore methodologies and research frameworks that will help  to provide the bases for policies designed to eradicate both poverty and environmental damage in developing countries.