Developmental Environmentalism: Green Growth in East Asia

Developmental environmentalism (DE) is a concept devised to explain East Asia’s enthusiastic embrace of ‘green growth’. The (North) East Asian region is now well known for its highly effective state-sponsored industrialization strategies (i.e. its developmental strategies). DE refers to the application of those developmental strategies to new green industries. For policymakers in the region, the pursuit of green growth through DE strategies is viewed as the most realistic way of meeting the imperative to promote national economic growth while simultaneously strengthening energy security and mitigating against environmental degradation. Yet, these developments have also drawn criticism, with debate raging over the pace and progress of decarbonization and resource de-intensification, and whether an authoritarian political system is a prerequisite for the effective pursuit of green growth. This chapter discusses the emergence and operationalization of DE strategies in East Asia and probes the key issues at the centre of the debate over green growth.