Asia’s Wicked Environmental Problems

51 Pages Posted: 1 Mar 2012

See all articles by Stephen Howes

Stephen Howes

Australian National University (ANU) - Development Policy Centre; Australian National University (ANU) - Crawford School of Public Policy

Paul Wyrwoll

Australian National University (ANU)

Date Written: March 1, 2012

Abstract

The developing economies of Asia are confronted by serious environmental problems that threaten to undermine future growth, food security, and regional stability. This study considers four major environmental challenges that policymakers across developing Asia will need to address towards 2030: water management, air pollution, deforestation and land degradation, and climate change. We argue that these challenges, each unique in their own way, all exhibit the characteristics of 'wicked problems'. As developed in the planning literature, and now applied much more broadly, wicked problems are dynamic, complex, encompass many issues and stakeholders, and evade straightforward, lasting solutions.

Keywords: Asia environmental problems, food security, water management, air pollution, deforestation, land degradation, climate change, wicked problems

JEL Classification: O44, Q58, Q56, O10, O53, Q28, Q53

Suggested Citation

Howes, Stephen and Wyrwoll, Paul, Asia’s Wicked Environmental Problems (March 1, 2012). ADBI Working Paper 348, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2013762 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2013762

Stephen Howes (Contact Author)

Australian National University (ANU) - Development Policy Centre ( email )

7 Liversidge Street (Bld 70)
Lennox Crossing
Canberra, 0200
Australia

Australian National University (ANU) - Crawford School of Public Policy

ANU College of Asia and the Pacific
J.G. Crawford Building, #132, Lennox Crossing
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200
Australia

Paul Wyrwoll

Australian National University (ANU) ( email )

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601
Australia

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