The U.S. Government’s and Individual Citizens Obligation in Reducing Nation’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The question on whether the United States government has an obligation to adopt policies that are designed to reduce the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions is of great controversy. This is due to the approach that is taken by different individuals to try and look into this question. The answers given by various personalities vary based on the approach that is taken towards this matter. This is despite the common knowledge that all individuals have a role in reducing greenhouse gas emission. This is attributed to the numerous negative impacts that these emissions have on the environment and the climate. Through the changes that have been experienced in global climate rather than just the United States, it has been evident that there are changes and limitations that need to be made to help in reducing the greenhouse gas emission that is witnessed daily in different states within the United States of America. However, the main concern lays on whose responsibility it is to try and regulate or put an end to these poisonous emissions that are negatively affecting nature and human beings livelihood. These negative impacts are evident through the drastic changes that have been witnessed in the climatic conditions which are taking a stroll of the world. These changes are quite harmful and require urgent attention in addressing them rather than trying to reach a solution on whose responsibility it is to try and enforce policies that will see to the adoption of regulations that will be environmental friendly and limit the amount of greenhouse gas emission. The focus of this argument is on greenhouse gas emission due to the damaging impact it has on the environment. The paper argues that the U.S government is obliged to adopt policies that are aimed at reducing the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions and that individual citizens are also obliged to make changes in their behavior to reduce gas emissions.
Initially, the U.S government and individual citizen should prioritize strategies that aim at reducing green house emission to counter the devastating effect of these gases. In recent years, it has been hard not to notice the rate at which global warming is progressing (Amstrong 293). This is due to the unpredictable weather and hot times experienced in different nations all over the world. There has been no accurate or proper method that has been devised to measure the rate at which global warming is taking place though is inevitable not to accept that the rate is quite drastic. This is due to the new unpredictable weather phenomena’s which scientists and other experts have not been able to relate with. Global warming has been associated with human activities. This has been mainly associated with the mining industry, fossil fuels greenhouse gas emissions among other industries which emit gases harmful to the atmosphere. Despite people and the government being aware of the issues that lead to global warming, there have been little or no changes made to try and address this matter appropriately. This is evident through the increase in calamities and other climatic disasters that are being witnessed all over the globe associated with changes brought about by global warming. Such changes include prolonged droughts, floods and unpredictable weather. These are a few of the diverse changes that have been witnessed. Millions of individuals are affected by these drastic changes in weather while others have succumbed to the harsh climatic conditions that have been associated with changes in environmental factors.
It is apparent that green house gas emissions are characterized with dangerous effects that challenge the establishment of a healthy environment in the future. The U.S being an able economy should lead by examples by adopting effective policies that would effectively address situations that challenges the global fraternity. In essence, the attention is strongly diverted to America is due to its position in the world as being among one of the greatest world economy. Global warming has been associated with productive nations such as the United States due to their high and increased number of industries and greenhouses that emit a lot of gases into the atmosphere on a daily basis. The United States unlike other developing and third world countries has been able to develop solutions to these changes or just adapt to them as they develop. These leaves other countries in distress as they may not be in a position to adapt or develop a solution to the changes caused by global warming which is mostly fueled by big and rich countries like the United States.
Besides central role of the government, individual citizens also assume a vital role in checking green gas emissions. Various arguments have been posed regarding the issue on to what extent people should go try and ensure that there are collaborative efforts which are made possible through proper ethics by all individuals.
This will help in developing strategies aimed at reducing individual greenhouse gas emission. This is argued from a perspective that individual should not reduce their emission, however, it would be accurate to state that it is through ethics that all people who are concerned with the environment will put in efforts based on their ethics to try and cut down on the factors that they involve themselves in which contribute to these changes in weather (Hourdequin 444). This is argued from the point where it would be morally correct for an individual to take a personal drive in a car alone to a destination of choice for leisure. This is argued that there will be little or no damage at all caused to the environment out of this small but personal choice. Despite the truth behind this argument, it is true to state that collective efforts by different individuals to try and cut down on these activities which take little effect on the environment may a significant impact in making sure that there are changes made that are aimed at reducing global warming. It is correct to state that these small individual efforts that are made are essential in attaining the set objectives which is cutting down on greenhouses gas emission. Morals in this instance are quoted to be essential since it is only through good morals that an individual will arrive at this decision. Moral are significant in this particular situation since they are essential in influencing the society’s decisions to try and cultivate to the needs of the society by achieving a common goal. This will have be important since there will be positive changes based on the moral values that individuals drive at. It is through morals that there can be social transformation whereby there can be collective efforts on cutting down on activities that affect the environment negatively. The need for personal responsibility is, therefore, important in making sure that the issue on global warming and greenhouses gas emission is addressed. This is despite other arguments which are not in support of a personal obligation and collective efforts based on morals to try and fix on the existing climatic changes that are fueled by people themselves.
There is a need to acknowledge that collective actions are inevitable in order to achieve the set objectives which all drive at ensuring that there is a stop or at least a decrease at the rate at which global warming is taking place. Collective efforts rather than trying to blame the government on failure to take up responsibility by developing policies would go a long way in achieving the desired goal. Having reviewed this, it is appropriate to state that this can only be achieved through changes in personal morals.
Despite the ignorance that has been showed by individuals who do not see the need to cut down on emission due to different reasons. All people are in support of combined efforts that are aimed at ensuring that there are changes that are required in the practices that may be resulting to these changes in the climate which in terms affect their livelihood directly. Through the calamities and changes in temperature that occur, the very same individuals who do not see the need for changes in personal practices do acknowledge that there are changes which need to be made. This is due to the extent at which global warming has affected their lives and the environment around them. Integrity is also a factor that needs to be considered by individuals as part of the factors that will help them in cutting down on the emission from their activities and greenhouses. This is because greenhouses are among the leading causes of global warming.
Despite these efforts that are required to be made by different individuals, the United States government also needs to make an effort in adopting good policies. These policies will be essential in helping to address issues pertaining collectives efforts that will drive at developing strategies that will stop these emissions. The government being in higher authority has the mandate to develop policies that are aimed at reducing these greenhouses gas emissions. This is because it has authority over all individuals even those who may not be willing to cut down on their personal contribution to these factors that lead to global warming. The government can also set limitations to the quantity of matter and gases disposed of by different greenhouses owned by diverse organizations and people in the country. The government can also regulate the establishment of greenhouses. This will be efficient in developing strategies which will see to the regulation and possible betterment and recommend plans regarding waste disposable ways that will be more suitable. This will be efficient in ensuring that there changes that could possibly reduce the rate at which global warming is taking place or even possibly put an end to it. The government may also device plans and policies to the different individuals who contribute to the problem by ensuring that they have plans that are aimed at resolving the solution that they cause to the environment. This can be through giving all greenhouses owners the mandate to establish tree plantations that will make it possible to compensate for the damages that they are doing to the environment. This would be a policy that could possibly see to the improvement of the environment that we are living in. Such efforts can only be achieved through the compliant of both the United States government and the citizens who partake in these activities. Citizens should be educated on the importance of maintaining practices relevant on improving the environment. It is through these combined efforts that there will be changes. The government also needs to establish possible measures that will be taken against individuals who are not compliant to these policies that have been devised by the government. These include punishment such as imprisonment of repeat offenders of the set policies. Paying fines and the closure of greenhouses that are not compliant with the policies should also be considered to ensure that there are progress and adherence to the regulations that have been established.
Having reviewed the measures that are necessary in order to ensure that there are proper changes made, it is evident that these requires combined efforts by both the government and all individuals. This is because it is the typical citizens who are involved in the establishment of these greenhouses which are said to be emitting poisonous gases into the atmosphere. Therefore, it required that there are combined efforts made by all people requires morals in order to achieve the set objectives which are reducing causes of global warming. The main focus in this paper that contributes to global warming is the gases that are emitted into the air by greenhouses. It has also been established that personal integrity has a significant impact in making sure that there are combined efforts made by all people to try and ensure that there is a reduction on individual activities that contribute to global warming. This paper clearly illustrates the role all citizens play in ensuring that there is a decrease in this matter which is clearly fueled by their diverse activities. The United States also needs to acknowledge its participation on global warming. This is clearly emphasized by the statement whereby the United States is recognized as an industrious nation that has a lot of activities that result to the disposal of poisonous gases into the environment. It is worldly known that the United States is among the biggest and most industries nations in the world. Its operations, therefore, clearly entail a lot of emission of substance that may be harmful to the environment. The objectives that are aimed at reducing global warming can only be achieved through combined efforts by the American government and its citizens. Therefore, it is unethical and irresponsible to state that this mandate lies only by the government alone to devise policies aimed at regulation the nation’s greenhouse gas emission. A more informed position would be that the U.S government and individual citizens have an obligation of adopting policies and strategies that target reducing the nation’s greenhouse emissions for a better future.
