Recently scientists worried about climate change have urged governments to introduce measures to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are seen as its main cause. Simultaneously, politicians and environmentalists have urged individuals to make changes to their lifestyle. I shall argue that governments and individuals should take join responsibility for this problem.
Firstly, industry accounts for a large proportion of the greenhouse gas emissions, and this can only be controlled by government action. Measures could be taken to discourage pollution, such as limiting or taxing the use of fossil fuels. Alternatively, subsidies could be offered to industries to clean up their production processes. If these ideas were adopted, I believe that businesses would regard pollution as a financial issue. Secondly, discussions among governments can ensure that solutions are successful. The Kyoto agreement, for example, tried to reach a global agreement on how to address the problem. Without such co-operating, it seems to me that efforts to reduce fuel consumption are unlikely to be effective.
However, national and international policies will only succeed if individuals also change their lifestyle. For example, people could think more carefully about how they use energy in their homes. By using less electricity, installing energy-efficient light bulbs and electrical appliances, or investing in solar panels, individuals can make a real difference. In addition, I think individual attitudes to transport need to change. Instead of making short trips by car, people could choose to walk, cycle, or take a bus. Since cars are a major source of the problem, changing our behaviour in this area would have a major impact.
In conclusion, I would maintain that only a combination of the international agreement, national policies, and changes in individual behaviour will succeed in preventing further damage to the environment.
Recently scientists worried about climate
change
have urged
governments
to introduce measures to
reduce
the greenhouse gas emissions that are
seen
as its main cause.
Simultaneously
, politicians and environmentalists have urged
individuals
to
make
changes
to their lifestyle. I shall argue that
governments
and
individuals
should take
join
responsibility for this problem.
Firstly
, industry accounts for a large proportion of the greenhouse gas emissions, and this can
only
be controlled
by
government
action. Measures could
be taken
to discourage pollution, such as limiting or taxing the
use
of fossil fuels.
Alternatively
, subsidies could
be offered
to industries to clean up their production processes. If these
ideas
were adopted
, I believe that businesses would regard pollution as a financial issue.
Secondly
, discussions among
governments
can ensure that solutions are successful. The Kyoto agreement,
for example
, tried to reach a global agreement on how to address the problem. Without such co-operating, it seems to me that efforts to
reduce
fuel consumption are unlikely to be effective.
However
, national and international policies will
only
succeed if
individuals
also
change
their lifestyle.
For example
,
people
could
think
more
carefully
about how they
use
energy in their homes. By using less electricity, installing energy-efficient light bulbs and electrical appliances, or investing in solar panels,
individuals
can
make
a real difference.
In addition
, I
think
individual
attitudes to transport need to
change
.
Instead
of making short trips by car,
people
could choose to walk, cycle, or take a bus. Since cars are a major source of the problem, changing our
behaviour
in this area would have a major impact.
In conclusion
, I would maintain that
only
a combination of the international agreement, national policies, and
changes
in
individual
behaviour
will succeed in preventing
further
damage to the environment.