Why do low-income countries like Brazil, Egypt, or Vietnam have lower environmental standards than high income countries like the Germany, Japan, or the United States?

Low-income countries like Brazil, Egypt, or Vietnam have lower environmental standards than high-income countries like Germany, Japan, or the United States due to a combination of factors. These factors include economic priorities, which often favor growth over the environment; technological capacities, as low-income countries use older, less efficient technologies; regulatory effectiveness, with limited resources and institutional capacity for environmental protection; public engagement, as high-income countries have a more educated population demanding higher environmental standards; and international pressures, as high-income countries participate more in environmental agreements and provide aid to low-income countries for environmental initiatives.