It is considered by some that solving issues regarding the environment requires collective efforts from nations worldwide, while there are others who think that each country should independently try to address the problems. In my opinion, although the national approach allows states to tackle environmental issues locally, solving these problems on an international scale will yield better results globally.
On the one hand, when handling a situation at the national level, a country can quickly decide on an approach and pass necessary legislation without having to wait for a consensus among nations involved. This faster and more convenient process allows them to tackle environmental issues effectively, leading to positive results domestically. For instance, during the current Biden’s Administration, through Congressional Bills and Presidential Executive Orders, the United States has independently cut down on operations that are harmful to the environment, such as drilling for oil or harvesting natural gas. While many other countries around the world did not follow this initiative for fear of high energy prices, major news networks such as CNN and MSNBC have reported environmental improvements as a result of these actions.
On the other hand, a healthy environment is essential everywhere on Earth, not just in specific nations. In the long term, efforts from one country will be fruitless without the cooperation of the world, hence environmental issues would be better addressed in a global capacity. This collective effort would improve the Earth’s ecosystem and environment as a whole, leading to an overall alleviation to the environmental crisis. For example, many members of the United Nations have signed an agreement to collectively reduce fossil fuel usage annually while promoting alternative energy sources that are cleaner and more sustainable, such as solar or wind. With this commitment, research suggests that global carbon emissions will be reduced greatly in the coming decades, resulting in cleaner air and atmosphere worldwide.
In conclusion, while domestic actions can be taken quickly and effectively to address environmental issues in one country, I am convinced that these problems would be better solved on a global scale. With joint effort from nations around the world, we can preserve our planet for future generations.