As climate change becomes a major problem worldwide, many believe that only individuals have the responsibility to tackle this phenomenon. I believe that cooperation between both governments and citizens is necessary and I will explain my reasons below.
Firstly, the central role should be played by the authorities as they possess the power to legislate against damaging the environment. This is particularly effective in preventing the unethical practices of businesses, which contribute greatly to environmental pollution. Since individuals cannot solely influence change in production policies, stricter laws on byproduct dumping and waste treatment processes must be enacted along with severe punishment should violations occur. To illustrate, a chemical company in Vietnam received a 100 million dollar fine when it was proven to have released a great amount of toxic gases into the atmosphere. This served as a deterrent to similar companies who soon changed their ways of operation.
Furthermore, the people themselves should also make an effort to ensure this problem is effectively dealt with. By complying with civil regulations, they can take on the duty of preventing any damage to their local environment. Additionally, the amount of emissions from private vehicles can be reduced with a shift to more environmentally friendly alternatives, such as commuting in public transport or carpooling. Public pressure can also be exerted on unethical businesses by means of boycotting and criticism on social media.
All in all, the government has a greater responsibility for dealing with the causes of climate change. However, only when a combined effort from both authorities and the people is achieved will this problem be sufficiently solved.