Blue Planet Prize Story

There was not the disparity of wealth that we see now in the world until about 200 years ago. That is, most people everywhere were equally poor until the period of modern economic growth that started then. Some countries that caught the wave of economic growth become richer and richer while countries that did not remained poor.

Why was there such a difference between countries? One of the reasons is that the successful countries simply had conditions that favored economic growth. Successful countries had vast areas of land with a wealth of resources, they were surrounded by oceans that made trade with other countries easier, or they were geographically protected from attack from the outside.

Is it possible for poor countries to become richer in spite of their conditions?

No, it is not. Because of advances in science and technology, we can now overcome any number of disadvantages. Professor Sachs calls the process of economic growth the "ladder of development." If people can reach the first step on the ladder, the country can make progress by itself. However, poor countries usually have difficulty getting to the first step on the ladder due to their poverty. We call this a poverty trap.

Professor Sachs says that rich countries have an obligation to support poor countries in their bids to escape from the snare of extreme poverty.

He also believes that our generation can eliminate poverty in the world if we cooperate.

Disease in Africa

Let's go back to Professor Sachs' visit to Africa.

He used his experience to understand what kept Africa in the poverty trap. What he found was that despite the rich savanna, farming villages in the area were isolated because of the lack of usable roads. This prevented the economy from improving.

He identified other problems as well. In Africa, infectious diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria were prevalent. Although treatments were developed, many in Africa were dying due to a lack of availability. Professor Sachs thought it would be difficult to promote economic growth in Africa before taking measures to treat these diseases.

Around that time, Professor Sachs received a phone call from Dr. Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway, 2004 Blue Planet Prize laureate, who served as the Director General of the UN World Health Organization (WHO). The World Commission on Environment and Development (The Brundtland Commission) that she organized in 1987 is well known for disseminating the concept of sustainable development and public health.

Dr. Brundtland told him that it was essential to explain the effect of infectious diseases on the economy and make proposals for solutions. Supported by Dr. Brundtland, Professor Sachs established the Commission on Macroeconomics and Health (CMH), discussed infectious disease control in Africa with specialists, and submitted proposals to Dr. Brundtland and Mr. Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Approval of the proposals led to the establishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM), these achievements included the provision of therapeutic drugs to people suffering from AIDS.

4. Saving the Earth