The first comparison between developed and less
developed countries starts with Netherlands and Greece, countries which differ
both geographically and economically. The first one is a continental country
with an area of 41.526 km² and a more developed economy than the Greek’s which
has a larger territory 131.990 km² and a historical legacy as well. The Greek
economy is less developed and is relying only on tourism in some regions.
Although both of them are EU members, the idea that they are develop equally is
based on a false presumption. The differences are not only economical but
geographical and social too. If Netherlands is a continental country, Greece on
the other hand is a peninsular and insular country which leads to another type
of development. Being part of the same EU system, a major law in environmental
protection is “Environment-related indicators 2008”, European Commission which
is reliable both for climate change and different kinds of pollution.
The environmental issues are not the same because
the interest in protecting the environment is also different. So, for the Netherlands
the major issue is the territorial water pollution when, for Greece it is the
industrial smog and the exhaust of gas emissions in the metropolitan area of
Athens.
Similarly to the rest of Europe, the
rest of environmental problems like exceeded emissions for SO2, NOX, O3, CO,
C6H6 and particulate matter PM10 and PM2.5 are common here as well.
Ammonia (NH3) values between 1990-2008 and the target for 2010 Gothenburg protocol; Source:http://www.eea.europa.eu/
If in Netherlands there were some
political tensions because of the pollution in the Northern Sea, Greece is one
of the first 50 countries that contributes to the global pollution with
industrial carbon – in 1992 it was on the 37th place with
73.8 million tones and a level of 7.25 per capita.
Nitric oxide values between 1990-2007 and the target for 2010 Gothenburg protocol; Source:http://www.eea.europa.eu/
Analyzing the information that EEA offers us, it becomes
obvious that the interest and the amount of money is definitely higher in the
developed countries than in the eastern Europe or Balkan countries.
GHG's values linked to climate change; Source:http://www.eea.europa.eu/
Bibliography:
- http://www.eea.europa.eu/
- http://www.indexmundi.com/netherlands/environment_current_issues.html
- http://www.ministryofinfrastructureandtheenvironment.nl/
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