There are two perspectives we must consider and understand before we can firmly criticize governments on putting their own national interest and economic growth, before acting on environmental concerns of the global community. In reality we have environmentalist clash heads with political candidates in various governments.
Let’s be honest with ourselves for one second, for as long as we have money hungry politicians and states wanting to gain the majority of political power, we will always see national economic interest take precedent and priority over the environmental concerns of the world. Us as humans by nature have the instinct to care more about our standard of living rather than the health and preservation of rarely seen species of our ecosystem. As hard and degrading it is to admit it, our lifestyle today has taught us to care more about our own well-being, than we do of those people who will be living three, four or even five generations later.
If building a sustainable “world” for our future generations and for other species is in the hands of these moral and functioning values, and requires changing, we are in serious trouble. And who knows, perhaps we are already in trouble, but let’s be realistic, this is not because we are neglecting our own interest. You may take your own opinion on these moral standings but we can assure, this is reality.
The one concern and view held at the hearts of many economists and politicians, is that protecting the environment creates a net expense to our economy, which is the number one constraint in prioritizing environmental concerns. Environmental concerns have become a merely speckle, on the political radar and practically has faded away due to the recession. Two years ago, with E...
... middle of paper ...
...ings about government taxing and spending, let’s not beat around the bush, we all want the taxing to go down but the spending on our needs to go up. Will this be an easy change? No of course not. The government will continue this business of “picking our pockets” and will only stop this if we are willing to stop putting money in.
However the reality to all of this is, the states governments will not think unmistakably or realistically about public policy unless they stop this thoughtless business of fighting the economy against the environment and just be honest and truthful to the people that we want both richness and a sustainable “world”
It is time that the nation’s governments start to work together, and instead of create solutions for each value separately, find a solution that caters for both equally and enhance our resources rather than see them go to waste.
Environmental and energy policies can play a significant yet small role in the incrementalism in policy making. Environmental policies and new plans often cost money and time that the government cannot fully give to a specific area that may be affected. Charles Lindblom discusses that how the best solution will not always be selected, but that incrementalism is common for larger policies that have a high level of salience and a low level of conflict, since these are more easy to agree upon and change quickly, example airline safety. Environmental policies have a low level and salience and a low level of conflict which causes the policies to get pushed back and often reviewed and not changed because of funding that can be offered. The connection that is created between incrementalism and environmental policy has been changed and improved over time but the actual changes are not implemented because of the prio...
In 1989, seventy five percent of Americans identified themselves as environmentalists, and the number has continued to grow since then (Walls 1). Environmentalism is now the most popular social movement in the United States, with over five million American families donating regularly to environmental organizations (Walls 1). Environmentalists today focus on what kind of world they hope to see in the future, and largely deal with limiting pollution and changing consumption rates (Kent 1 and 9). Modern environmentalists also have much different issues than those Carson’s America faced. With climate change becoming more threatening each year, protection of the natural world is needed more than ever. Pollution has caused the warmest decade in history, the deterioration of the ozone layer, and species extinction in extreme numbers (Hunter 2). It not only threatens nature, but also human populations, who already suffer from lack of clean water and poisoning from toxic chemicals (Hunter 16). Unlike environmental actions in the 1960’s, which were mostly focused on protection, a massive increase in pollution has caused efforts to be focused on environmental restoration (Hunter 16). Like in the time of Silent Spring, environmentalists are not only concerned with one country. Protecting the environment remains a global issue, and every nation is threatened by the
Because of human and nonhuman connections to specific places including knowledge, experience and community, using a sense of place and permanence as a green transnational multilateral initiative could be a successful step towards green democracy and ecological citizenship. Robyn Eckersley offers the suggestion of a constitutionally entrenched principle that would enhance ecological and social responsibility: the precautionary principle. I suggest connecting localized, place-specific boundaries with the principle. This addition is meant to aid in fostering ecological citizenship, expanding the moral community, and creating a responsible society. This addition would also be meant to unite a transnational issue that all nations could agree upon. This would create a binding multilateral principle that would be thoroughly accepting of specific ecological needs and characteristics of specific places.
Analyzing human obligation pertaining to all that is not man made, apart from humans, we discover an assortment of concerns, some of which have been voiced by philosophers such as Tom Regan, Peter Singer and Aldo Leopold. Environmentally ethical ideals hold a broad spectrum of perspectives that, not only attempt to identify a problem, but also focus on how that problem is addressed through determining what is right and wrong.
Rudel, K. Thomas, J. Timmons Roberts and JoAnn Carmin. 2011. “Political Economy of the Environment.” Annual Review of Sociology 37: 221-238.
I think it is agreed by all parties that it is an eyesore to see these people blockading the roads to prime tree-cutting land and bombarding our most respectable government with impractical proposals. It is not so Herculean a task to discourage these self-named “environmentalists” in their follies by paying them no heed. However, a new generation of them has sprung up. Citing how it is in fact profitable to protect the environment, they try to pull blindfolds over the public’s eyes. Therefore, whoever could find an easy and economically sound method of reclaiming these lost souls would deserve to be made the head of our nation at the very least.
...ctually need and never consider the natural resources as a global property that should be used equally to fill the gap between rich and poor, and wisely to benefit our future generation. In a word, to achieve an agreement about climate change, we will have to work on the control of the use of natural recourses and balance the needs of both developed countries and developing countries respectively, and treat our responsibilities towards sustainable development as an obligation to benefit not only us but also our future generation in a long term.
“Unless humanity is suicidal, it should want to preserve, at the minimum, the natural life-support systems and processes required to sustain its own existence” (Daily p.365). I agree with scientist Gretchen Daily that drastic action is needed now to prevent environmental disaster. Immediate action and changes in attitude are not only necessary for survival but are also morally required. In this paper, I will approach the topic of environmental ethics from several related sides. I will discuss why the environment is a morally significant concern, how an environmental ethic can be developed, and what actions such an ethic would require to maintain and protect the environment.
...lations diminished production, those without the basic human needs of food, shelter, and clothing will be forced into still greater poverty. So the very debate about whether to curb production to save the environment is also a question of whose livelihoods we value more: present day poor or future populations.
In The Development of Environmental Regimes: Chemicals, Wastes, and Climate Change, the authors provide a simple framework to analyze the development of global environmental regimes (GER) which ultimately addresses why states sometimes agree to cooperate on global environmental issues despite divergent interests. The chapter is divided into five subsections but begins with an introduction to explain the five processes involved in the development of GERs. The authors address questions such as who forms GERs and how are they formulated. Next, they apply the processes involved in the development of GERs to four case studies that are linked to global environmental issues: ozone depletion, hazardous waste, toxic chemicals, and climate change, respectively. The authors conclude that states and non-state actors can come together to address global environmental issues but not without obstacles.
In traditional opinions, environmental protection and economic growth are mutually contradictory. Economic growth is a high environmental cost, and protecting the environment will limit the economic growth. The reason of contradiction stems from the inappropriate understandings among development, economic growth and environmental protection. In fact, economic growth could have a harmonious relationship with environmental protection.
When we sit in a science class, most of the time we are bored as bored can get. We really do not get a chance to explore on our own to find out what’s really out there. Teachers sometimes are not able to get in depth outside the textbook because they are required to teach that all in the year. That is why a lot of kids do not really get into science because they are stuck to the book all the time. Some kids love science and do not really care about the work they have to do. Environmental science, is more than the book really says.
The protection of the environment however has just recently become the major issue that it is in today’s society. People worldwide have slowly begun to realize and become aware of the blatant destruction and deterioration of the environment and ozone. As well as the consequences and side affects, that we, as a society have created. The majority of people are just becoming aware of the frightening reality of the situation. As society becomes more informed on the issue of the environment, they too become more impatient, and feel that in the snap of fingers, the damage can be reversed and future damage can be stopped instantaneously.
Case in point, the environmental protection is the foundation for which we need to take care of our unparalleled earth.Like all else in our monetized world, there is a dollar figure attached to the earth. One argument often brought up at all levels of the government is cost. The price tag can absolutely change one’s sympathy to the issue. In terms of environmental protection, preventative measuresare more cost-effective than reversing it once the damage has been done. According to a report by the International Energy Agency “Switching from fossil fuels to low-carbon sources of energy will cost $44 trillion between now and 2050”. And that is only the beginning of our problems. In other words, keeping our earth clean is far less costly than trying to clean itswhopping 25,000-mile circumference. This is said to be true in many aspects. For example, taking good care of a car is wiser and simpler than trying to fix damage later on. Potential preventative measures might include more funding for clean energy, bills passed to regulatewaste, and tax incentive for going green. In the heart of one problem, there is often another issue just waiting to be solved. Environmental protection is all-encompassing, but might include solar panels, clean energy factories and more. When windmills were first on the rise, people could not believe how many job opportunities this opened up. Environmental protective actions have the potential
Environmental studies is a paramount field to focus on for both the present day and the future. This field of studies pertains to all people, animals, plants, and biomes around the world. Environmental Studying is important because it is only by understands the environmental processes that we can begin to take the steps necessary to correct the on-going damage that is occurring, and ultimately protect and sustain life on the planet. Unless steps are taken to try and abate and control environmental problems, which are often human-generated or exacerbated, then the environmental that we live in will continue to deteriorate. There is no life without protecting the source that sustains us. Even though I have only been alive for seventeen years, it has been long enough to see many negative environmental changes. Since I was born that population has grown by over one billion people causing deforestation, loss of wildlife, increased pollution to both air and water, and even superbugs. However, I have also been able to see extremely positive results such as an increase in the research and implementation of renewable resources. The reason I am so motivated to study environmental science is because I know that change is possible. Those who study environmental science and study have the ability to help reduce, and possible reserve, some of the damage that has been done to the environment while at the same time, helping to advance the well-being of our fellow humans.