“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 issue of who should make the sacrifices necessary to conserve energy and protect the environment certainly is a complex and controversial one. I agree with the statement that it is unrealistic to expect one nation to shoulder the costs of conserving energy because one country is too small to make a real impact on environment and ecological sustainability always means abstaining from economic growth to a certain extent.
First, one nation does not have as much influence on the worldwide environment as a cooperation of many countries would have. For example, Denmark invests a lot in a clean environment, fines cars with a high pollution and gives citizens, who build energy efficient housings, tax reductions. Undoubtedly, by taking these actions, the Danish have a clear conscience and do a lot for a clean planet. But it does not really have an impact if surrounding countries like Germany and Great Britain do not share the ideas of the Danish Government and form a cooperation pro environment.
Second, one cannot deny that conserving energy leads to lower economic growth. The air is a free good that everyone can use for production but saving energy and air leads to much higher costs, which have to be paid by the consumer in the long run. If only one nation has to take up for these extra costs, its companies will lose market share since in this globalized world consumers will substitute with cheaper products from other countries. For instance, China refutes to accept energy saving laws because they are afraid to lose profits and say: If the other countries do not regulate pollution, we will not either.
On the other hand, some may argue that it needs one nation to start and then, others will follow. But conversely, there will not be a starting country because economic sacrifices are too serious. To illustrate, not even the European Union can agree on energy saving laws because they fear the losses compared to the Asian countries and the USA. As a matter of fact, a worldwide cooperation with all industrial nations as members is needed to initiate worldwide energy and environment saving laws, like stated in the issue.
In conclusion, international leadership and worldwide cooperation is fundamental to protect the environment for future generation since one nation can neither make enough impact, nor shoulder the extra costs of these important actions.
Thank you very much for your help!!! I really appreciate that!
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 issue of who should make the sacrifices necessary to conserve energy and protect the environment certainly is a complex and controversial one. I agree with the statement that it is unrealistic to expect one nation to shoulder the costs of conserving energy because one country is too small to make a real impact on environment and ecological sustainability always means abstaining from economic growth to a certain extent.
First, one nation does not have as much influence on the worldwide environment as a cooperation of many countries would have. For example, Denmark invests a lot in a clean environment, fines cars with a high pollution and gives citizens, who build energy efficient housings, tax reductions. Undoubtedly, by taking these actions, the Danish have a clear conscience and do a lot for a clean planet. But it does not really have an impact if surrounding countries like Germany and Great Britain do not share the ideas of the Danish Government and form a cooperation pro environment.
Second, one cannot deny that conserving energy leads to lower economic growth. The air is a free good that everyone can use for production but saving energy and air leads to much higher costs, which have to be paid by the consumer in the long run. If only one nation has to take up for these extra costs, its companies will lose market share since in this globalized world consumers will substitute with cheaper products from other countries. For instance, China refutes to accept energy saving laws because they are afraid to lose profits and say: If the other countries do not regulate pollution, we will not either.
On the other hand, some may argue that it needs one nation to start and then, others will follow. But conversely, there will not be a starting country because economic sacrifices are too serious. To illustrate, not even the European Union can agree on energy saving laws because they fear the losses compared to the Asian countries and the USA. As a matter of fact, a worldwide cooperation with all industrial nations as members is needed to initiate worldwide energy and environment saving laws, like stated in the issue.
In conclusion, international leadership and worldwide cooperation is fundamental to protect the environment for future generation since one nation can neither make enough impact, nor shoulder the extra costs of these important actions.
Thank you very much for your help!!! I really appreciate that!
