The Heavy Price of Globalization: Globalization and Sustainable Development

The term "globalization" has become a lightning rod for economists, historians, farmers, health workers, policy-makers, and others. Many view globalization as inevitable and irreversible. According to this view, globalization promotes world interconnection through international trade, and due to technology transfer will lower the cost of production and promote consumption; these are essential to future world development.(1) There are others who regard globalization with hostility and even fear, believing that it increases inequality within and between nations, threatens national employment, and creates environmental damage. This article will focus on the impact of globalization on sustainable development, climate change and environmental protection.