"It is unrealistic to expect individual nations to make, independently, the sacrifices necessary to conserve energy. International leadership and worldwide cooperation are essential if we expect to protect the world's energy resources for future generations."
Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the opinion stated above. Support your views with reasons and/or examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.
The author of this topic suggests that energy conservation would be more effective under collective effort involving many nations than individual contribution from single nation. In this discussion, I shall present arguments favoring the former statement and refuting the latter.
The main reason of my view is that practice of decreasing the quantity of energy used is every nation responsibility. In the spirit of globalization, people live in world not divided by hard borders, we share the same breathing space, and so does the nation. As Thomas Friedman mentioned in his book, "Hot, Flat and Crowded", energy conservation should be a revolutionary effort involving every nation. It is an urgent and important issue needed everyone's attention. Contribution from individual nation, independently, only yields evolutionary result and it will not resolve shortage of energy resources in a desired scale.
Moreover, international leadership such as the effort led by former United State's Vice President, Al Gore is much needed to raise the awareness of energy conservation. A true advocate for global warming issue, Al Gore uses his knowledge and leadership to influence the world about the importance of preserving the environment, reducing carbon footprint and developing green, renewable and sustainable energy. Through this kind of large scale public awareness campaign, only the world will share a common goal and work together to preserve energy for future generations.
Last but not least, developed nations which have proven records in preserving energy and harvesting renewable energy can share their technological advancement with the world. For example, Germany and Spain are both the leaders in solar energy, a green and renewable energy suitable for many nations. Through technology knowledge sharing, we can leverage the energy conservation effort to a global level. Of course, world association such as United Nation needs to take the initiative to promote the knowledge sharing culture.
However, achieving global consensus in conserving energy is not an easy task. For example, Kyoto Protocol, a treaty aims at reducing greenhouse gas emission does not come successful due to various hindrances to acquire global consensus.
In sum, global cooperation and international leadership are very crucial for energy conservation. It is impractical to expect independent sacrifices from individual nation to conserve energy, as it will only yield little success in the long run.
Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the opinion stated above. Support your views with reasons and/or examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.
The author of this topic suggests that energy conservation would be more effective under collective effort involving many nations than individual contribution from single nation. In this discussion, I shall present arguments favoring the former statement and refuting the latter.
The main reason of my view is that practice of decreasing the quantity of energy used is every nation responsibility. In the spirit of globalization, people live in world not divided by hard borders, we share the same breathing space, and so does the nation. As Thomas Friedman mentioned in his book, "Hot, Flat and Crowded", energy conservation should be a revolutionary effort involving every nation. It is an urgent and important issue needed everyone's attention. Contribution from individual nation, independently, only yields evolutionary result and it will not resolve shortage of energy resources in a desired scale.
Moreover, international leadership such as the effort led by former United State's Vice President, Al Gore is much needed to raise the awareness of energy conservation. A true advocate for global warming issue, Al Gore uses his knowledge and leadership to influence the world about the importance of preserving the environment, reducing carbon footprint and developing green, renewable and sustainable energy. Through this kind of large scale public awareness campaign, only the world will share a common goal and work together to preserve energy for future generations.
Last but not least, developed nations which have proven records in preserving energy and harvesting renewable energy can share their technological advancement with the world. For example, Germany and Spain are both the leaders in solar energy, a green and renewable energy suitable for many nations. Through technology knowledge sharing, we can leverage the energy conservation effort to a global level. Of course, world association such as United Nation needs to take the initiative to promote the knowledge sharing culture.
However, achieving global consensus in conserving energy is not an easy task. For example, Kyoto Protocol, a treaty aims at reducing greenhouse gas emission does not come successful due to various hindrances to acquire global consensus.
In sum, global cooperation and international leadership are very crucial for energy conservation. It is impractical to expect independent sacrifices from individual nation to conserve energy, as it will only yield little success in the long run.
