MODERN slavery is a blight on our planet in many ways.
First and foremost on the lives of those caught in its net. The latest measures estimate there are . The International Labour Organization believes this adds $150 billion annually to the criminal economy. Even if historically it has never been a smaller proportion of human existence, any amount of forced labour is too much.
It is also becoming clear that modern slavery is bad in other ways 鈥� in particular its vastly disproportionate impact on climate change and species loss. Highlighting this might help spur nations to work harder to end it.
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The link is obvious on the Bay of Bengal, specifically the . This vast area of protected mangrove forest is a , home to protected species, and a crucial buffer for coastal towns against cyclones. Slaves are made to clear the forest, which releases CO2 and also pushes to the brink. The profits driving this destruction come from the global market for shrimp and pet food.
These camps are one example of many slave-based enterprises in , , , logging, and other industries.
Their combined impact on the climate is severe. If all slavery were a country it would have Canada鈥檚 population and the GDP of Kuwait, but would rank third for CO2 emissions, after China and the US. I hope that such facts will add new impetus to efforts to end forced labour.
Enforcement of existing anti-slavery laws would diminish both CO2 emissions and species loss, while also warding off the threat of rising sea levels and destructive deforestation. This would have little or no economic cost for existing (non-criminal) industries and markets, and would help lift depressed economic areas.
If freed slaves were paid to replant the forests they were forced to cut, this could generate carbon credits. Selling these credits would help to fund the rehabilitation of land and people.
Ending slavery will require a big investment in things like law enforcement, but this can be offset by a that accrues as millions more people fully participate in the economy, stimulating much-needed growth in developing countries.
Ending slavery is bad for criminals and corrupt officials but good for those forced to work, and for the economy, the environment and consumers.
It turns out that doing this might just save the world.
This article appeared in print under the headline 鈥淪laves to destruction鈥�
