雅思阅读

📖 Reading Passage

The concept of 'environmental debt' has gained traction in ecological economics, referring to the cumulative burden imposed on natural systems by human activities that exceed their regenerative capacity. Unlike financial debt, which can be repaid through monetary transactions, environmental debt is often irreversible, as species extinction and habitat degradation cannot be fully remediated. Scholars argue that current accounting frameworks fail to incorporate this ecological liability, leading to a systematic underestimation of the true cost of economic growth. Furthermore, the burden is disproportionately borne by future generations and developing nations, raising ethical concerns about intergenerational justice. Proponents of sustainable development advocate for integrating natural capital into national balance sheets, while critics caution that monetizing ecosystems may oversimplify their intrinsic value and lead to perverse incentives. This debate underscores the need for a nuanced policy approach that balances economic pragmatism with ecological stewardship.