Global health. The current scenario and future perspectives

84 organism to another in the food chain. Most of the POPs regulated by the Convention have already been banned in developed countries under national legislation, so the main objective of the treaty is to provide financial and technical assistance to developing countries. Currently, 184 countries have ratified the Convention, while the United States has become a signatory without ratifying it. Why have pollution issues been addressed more easily than global warming or biodiversity loss? Three factors explain the success of international measures against pollution: 1. Many of the scientific uncertainties regarding global warming and biodiversity do not exist for pollution. Those whose economic interests could be harmed by stricter pollution regulations have not been able to successfully argue that the science is uncertain regarding the effects of pollution on humans and ecosystems. 2. There was advanced development in countries regarding the most hazardous chemicals (especially POPs), which had already been banned through national regulations before international efforts. This facilitated the coordination of international strategy. 3. Technology was developed to avoid the use of hazardous chemicals, which made adaptation to pollution regulations relatively cost- effective. The availability of technologies to control pollution contains two contradictory lessons for the debate on the latest environmental problem in this section: global warming. On the one hand, supporters of strict controls can point to the development of such technology to demonstrate that companies can adapt to be productive and environmentally friendly. On the other hand, those opposed to strict controls may highlight technological adaptation to show that, whatever the environmental problems, the free-market economy can develop solutions without being forced to do so by government regulation. In either case, it seems that a “technological solution” would put an end to environmental problems. However, so far, there are no technological solutions that can end current emissions of pollutants retroactively, and none of them consider the main element of environmental protection, which is the reduction of consumption at all levels and would lead to a reduction in production along with its waste and emissions.