This parallel's the large imbalance in economic availability between countries. Developed countries use more expensive sources of energy that are more efficient and environmentally friendly. Contrarily, underdeveloped countries are subjected to cheaper, more environmentally harmful sources of energy, such as wood and crop waste, that have serious impacts on environmental health. "Wood smoke, as sweet as it smells, is a caustic swirl of chemical agents, including benzene, butadiene, styreneproducing a fume so corrosive that it can consume a piece of untreated steel in less than a year" (Bilger 2). Simple and cheap innovative technologies can counter the effects of emissions, such as the stove designed by Burkhard Bilger. "Devising the perfect stove could prevent one and a half million deaths a year in developing countries, and reduce carbon emissions" (Bilger 1). Though emissions are said to be 'cleaner' in developed countries, greenhouse emissions from these countries exceed those of underdeveloped countries. In essence, unnecessary overconsumption of 'cleaner' energy, and the use of cheap, but harmful energy sources are combining to take a toll on the global environment. .
Production of energy in underdeveloped countries, such as Nigeria, is often harmful to the local environment. However, out of economic plight, production is essential. The demand and economic availability, along with the lack of natural resources of developed countries, drives the exports from developing countries. "Nigeria's dependence on oil is absolute: it constitutes 96 percent of Nigeria's export revenue (of which the Unites States buys 40 percent)" (Nixon 106). Nigeria harnesses large amounts of oil pipelines, however, methods of harnessing oil are often environmentally unsafe. Pipelines run through villages, and limited water supplies in attempt to counter their economic struggles.