Addressing the issue of Poverty, Economic Growth, Health Matters, and Environmental Challenges

Abstract

In many of the regions of Southeast Asia and Africa, where economic growth has become a hot topic, challenges such as poverty and environmental issues become key obstacles. Although economic growth has benefited millions of people by lifting them out of poverty, the cost of this has often meant environmental degradation, fuelling climate change as well as deforestation and pollution (Yaqub, 2019). The quick industrialization and urbanization have led to stress on natural resources, with the underserved economically, which depend on agriculture and natural ecosystems for their livelihoods, bearing the brunt. Countries such as China, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia and Ghana face the dual challenge of driving sustainable economic development while reducing damage to the environment. The role of Government policies, foreign assistance and prudent administration of resources through extensive and sustainable development programs will help balance development with conservation. This paper examines the often-complicated relationship between economic growth, poverty, health and environmental sustainability, in particular looking at the need for green policies, investment in renewable energy and inclusive development to ensure that these countries can have a long-term future of prosperity (Elias and Al-Juboury, 2023).