Which of the following statements best characterizes how developed and developing countries impact the environment? a. neither developed nor developing countries have had a significant impact on the environment in the past century. b.developed countries have tended to improve the environment, while developing countries have tended to damage it. c.developed countries have damaged the environment, while developing countries have had little impact. d.both developed and developing countries have had significant negative impacts on the environment.

D. Both developed and developing countries have had significant negative impacts on the environment.  

Explanation:

Due to industrialization, both developed and developing countries have negatively impacted on the environment. During most of the 20th century, developed countries had greater impacts on the environment than developing nations, due to the emanation of greenhouse effect gases that pollute the air. On the contrary, the impact on the environment of most developing countries was less significant because industries, in general terms, were smaller.

This started to change after the 60s when big developing countries, like China, India, and Brazil, started to develop a large industrial sector, which consequently increased the amount of greenhouse effect gases liberated to the atmosphere. Also, many developing nations have a large animal husbandry sector which produces a large amount of pollution as well.

porter is writing economic history because he is focusing on the cost of developing vaccines.