Economic Convergence Is Happening: What does it mean for the environment?

This fascinating article in the NYT shows that the developing world is going gang-busters, but this time the growth is sustainable because it is fueled by current account surpluses (and by increasing domestic demand). This will be the biggest anti-poverty event in all of human history. As to the environmental angle, here's the catch: which force will outweigh the other, the increasing demand for environmental quality that will come with this increased wealth or the environmental degradation caused by it? Any thoughts?