There is an ongoing debate about whether the public is responsible of looking after the environment, or whether governments play a more substantial role. This essay will discuss both sides of the argument, while elaborating on how officials and people going hand in hand would yield the best results in the long run.
On the one hand, governments contribute significantly to reduce environmental degradation by providing financial resources and authorities to implement strict regulations against nature exploitation in a large scale. Firstly, they should allocate funds to preservation programs in order to decelerate environmental damages. A case in point would be in China, where enormous monetary aids were invested on pandas’ rehabilitation programs, considerably restoring the population of this endangered species. Secondly, governments are empowered by authorities to impose stringent penalties on both corporations and individuals, who exploit the nature for economic profits. For example, the stringent fines against excessive carbon emissions of industrial factories, has served as a powerful deterrent, ensuring factories implement greener policies.
On the other hand, inhabitants shoulder responsibility to opt for more sustainable lifestyles, as their ways of living can directly impact the environment. Although switching to eco-friendlier habit such as cutting down on water usage or turning off unnecessary lights may seem small steps compared to large-scale policies taken on by governments, when taken as a collective action, would markedly people’s carbon footprint. Furthermore, public can bridge the gap when formal support falls short, by organizing volunteer works in terms of taking care of the mother earth. For instance, local environmentalists in Iran organize free events, in which they clean the forests with the aid of volunteers, leading to a cleaner surrounding.
In conclusion, although governments’ role in environmental conservation is undeniable thanks to being empowered by financial resources and legal powers to introduce rigorous laws, the public help ensure comprehensive protection of environment by compensating authorities’ shortcomings.