Climate as an Obstacle to Development in the Tropics

Abstract

Human energy output in tropical climates is at a disadvantage compared to that of temperate climates, because of the need for seasonal variation for health & efficiency & as a result of malnutrition caused by poor plant & animal life. Climate affects agricultural productivity, & tropical climates have poorer soils & water supplies. It has long been noted that agricultural surpluses are necessary for industrial development to occur, & tropical climates are at a disadvantage. Poverty of the soils is attributed to rapid breakdown of organic materials in high temperature-high humidity climates. Direct influences of climate on industry & trade include the shorter life span of production materials, the adverse effects of climate on transportation & communication, & the tropical disadvantages of political & international relations. The argument that highly developed civilizations were once found in tropical climates is fallacious, because climatic conditions may not have been the same in ancient times &, further, they were not industrialized in the modern sense. The argument that technology has neutralized climatic disadvantages is also fallacious, because tropical countries lack the capital to employ technological innovations. A global effort to ameliorate climatic conditions is needed. This could be done by controlling the temperature of the oceans or changing the carbon-dioxide content of the atmosphere. Research & development of climatic amelioration should be undertaken by the UN. Appendix. L. Kamel (Copyright 1979, Sociological Abstracts, Inc., all rights reserved.)