In my view, wealthy countries can only support meaningful development if they first question the colonial logic that still shapes global economic systems. Development has too often been driven by extraction and growth, at the cost of communities and the Earth.

A more constructive approach would respect land, ecosystems, and local knowledge, while supporting fair labour conditions and self-determined economic paths. This also requires responsibility in the Global North to reduce overconsumption and environmental harm.

Seen this way, development becomes less about catching up and more about restoring balance between people, place, and planet.