Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
A vehicle exploded in Washington, DC, the United States.
The Israeli occupation forces are carrying out extensive air raids on eastern and northeastern Gaza.
Israeli media: One Israeli soldier killed in a "security incident" in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Israeli media: Intense exchange of fire in Khan Younis
Israeli media platform reports on a tough incident in Gaza still under media censorship
Iran's judiciary says 71 killed in Israeli strike on Evin Prison
Trump: Make the deal, get the hostages back
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 67 Palestinians were martyred in 24 hours in the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip
Israeli media: For the first time, Prime Minister Netanyahu is signaling that he wants to end the war on Gaza
Israeli Channel 12, citing an American source: We want to have entered a path toward captive release and a ceasefire before Netanyahu arrives in Washington

Rich EU consumers 'outsource' environmental impact to poorer neighbors

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 28 Jan 2023 00:16
3 Min Read

A recent study initiated by Greenpeace reveals that wealthy EU countries saw a positive GDP impact, while "outsourcing" environmental impact to places providing consumer goods.  

  • x
  • Rich EU consumers 'outsource' environmental impact to poorer neighbors
    A man who scavenges recyclable materials for a living, center, walks past Marabou storks feeding on a mountain of garage amidst smoke from burning trash at Dandora, the largest garbage dump in the capital Nairobi, Kenya Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021 (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Consumption patterns in rich European Union states are having detrimental environmental effects on poorer EU countries, a study published Thursday in Nature Sustainability revealed, exposing damaging inequalities on the continent.  

The study, which was initiated by Greenpeace to examine the impact of the EU's Green Deal climate plan, looked at 10 key environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, land use, and toxins in water and soil, in supply chain nations and stacked them up against GDP levels in EU countries.  

The detrimental impacts went beyond Europe -- Brazil, China, India, and Japan were included -- but the most remarkable findings were on the continent.

"There are huge inequalities between the EU, and that was the surprising thing," said Klaus Hubacek from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, the study's co-author.

Poorer nations within the EU were affected, in addition to non-EU countries like Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Moldova, and Ukraine, said the study.

"Eastern Europe consistently ranked as the region receiving the lowest share of economic value added compared to environmental pressures and impacts associated with EU consumption," the press release said.  

According to Hubacek, the researchers studied a "giant matrix" of data from 1995 to 2019, focusing on the GDP growth related to the consumption of food, clothing, manufactured products, and services, compared to environmental impact.  

The study revealed that richer European countries saw a positive GDP impact, while "outsourcing" environmental impact to places providing consumer goods.    

Related News

Global land degradation accelerating at alarming rate, new study finds

230 climate lawsuits filed against corporations in 2023: Report

The impacts "increased notably outside the EU, while decreasing within the bloc," the study said.  

'Winners and losers'

Some of the environmental effects come down to lax environmental regulations in poorer nations or depending on older technologies and tools that could be damaging or more polluting -- some of which would not be allowed in EU countries.  

The impact was also seen within the EU.    

For instance, agricultural producers in Greece and Spain saw disproportionate detrimental effects on water, land use, and biodiversity compared to the economic benefits from producing goods largely exported beyond their borders.  

"It's a fascinating part of the picture that we have rich and poor, and winners and losers, within countries and regions," Hubacek told AFP.

He said consumers could change consumption patterns, such as eating less inexpensive meat from countries with lax environmental laws but urged the EU at the same time to introduce tougher import rules.    

One solution could be imposing a border tax adjustment in a way that goods from countries where environmental impact is higher would face higher import tariffs.  

"It's improving the efficiency along the entire supply chain, meaning we have to improve the environmental problems here, as well as abroad," Hubacek said from the Netherlands.  

"We can't just focus on our own little backyard, but also see what damage we do elsewhere."  

  • Environment
  • gas emissions
  • European Union
  • Greenhouse gases

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
The site of a direct missile strike launched from Iran in Tel Aviv on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Op. True Promise 3, wave 21: Multi-warhead missiles rain on 'Israel'

  • Politics
  • 23 Jun 2025
Iran says targeted US Qatar air base under Op. Annunciation of Victory

Iran says targeted US Qatar air base under Op. Annunciation of Victory

  • MENA
  • 23 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Women comfort each other by a vehicle that was burnt overnight by Israeli settlers in an attack that killed three Palestinians and burnt several vehicles and damaged homes, in Kafr Malik, east of Ramallah, Thursday, June 26, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Settlers shoot and assault Palestinians in Hizma, Masafer Yatta

Syria's interim leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, walks in the presidential palace ahead of a meeting in Damascus, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP)
Politics

Syria open to Sharaa-Netanyahu meeting at UN assembly: Israeli media

Former Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani speaks with media at the Interior Ministry in Tehran, Iran, Friday, May 31, 2024 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' failed to topple Iran, lost 12-day war, Larijani says

Smoke rises to the sky following an Israeli strike in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP)
Politics

War on Gaza failed to achieve objectives in Gaza: Israeli media

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS