It is suggested that only governments and large companies can make a significant impact on the environment, while individuals cannot. I totally agree with the view that only governments and large companies can make a difference.
The main reason I support this view is that government research centers and institutes, as well as research and development at big companies, play a crucial role in environmental protection. They develop eco-friendly products, such as sunscreens that do not pose a threat to the marine ecosystem, and bottles made from recycled plastic. These eco-friendly products lead to a circular economy and encourage people to change their buying habits. Moreover, scientists and researchers can apply technical solutions to solve the existing problem. For example, using microorganisms to break down plastic, wastewater treatment, and produce clean energy like biogas. These technologies can reduce pollution, but individuals can not move from theory to practice without financial and technical support.
Another reason worth mentioning is that governments and large companies have a strong impact on public behavior. Governments can force people to follow environmental laws that improve the environment on a large scale. For example, tax on fossil-fuel vehicles reduces their use in the city center. An increasing number of electric vehicles like motorbicycles, cars, and buses with reasonable prices and smooth experience are changing the way people go to work or travel. Large companies cooperate with the government to develop the metro and electric vehicles, and to build roads for buses and bicycles. As a result, these combined can transfer people’s behavior to improve the environment, while individuals can not do that.
In conclusion, I am convinced that only governments and large companies can make a significant impact on the environment because they have strong research capacity, financial resources, and power to influence large-scale public behavior.