Latin America’s recent China-led economic boom was associated with significant environmental degradation and social conflict, according to a MacArthur-supported report by Boston University’s Global Economic Governance Initiative. The report finds that Latin American exports to China — the fastest growing export destination over the past decade — were twice as carbon intensive and three times as water intensive as general economic activity in the region. The report recommends Latin American governments put in place policies to ensure that economic activity in natural resource sectors is managed in an environmentally responsible way. It also recommends Chinese firms increase their sensitivity to social and environmental concerns to maintain a positive public image and profitability of their overseas activities.
