Economists Who Choose to Stand on the Side of the Environment

Emil brings a different approach. As an economist, he explains environmental problems through their close effects on people's lives and the economy.

Damage to Nature Has Costs

A polluted river is not just a matter of water changing color or emitting an odor. In it there are costs that many people have to bear.

The community lost its source of clean water. Citizens' health is threatened. Farmers have difficulty getting water for agricultural land. Fishermen lose fish, while the government has to spend money to deal with pollution and restore the environment.

The company may earn profits from its production activities. However, if waste is disposed of without proper management, some of the costs of these activities are transferred to the community and the state.

This perspective is what makes Emil Salim's thinking different. He sees environmental damage as an ecological as well as an economic problem.

Nature cannot continue to be considered a free resource that can be taken without limit. Clean water, healthy air, fertile soil, protected forests and biodiversity have value for life and the economy.

When these elements are damaged, society has to pay a heavy price. Sometimes those costs appear in the form of money. In other circumstances, society pays for it through illness, disaster, job loss, or reduced quality of life.