Should the Government take initiative in creating a eco friendly environment?

Question

I know it also depends on individual effort, but compared to what the Govt can do what an individual does is like a drop in the ocean.

I think if there is a will, from the politicians there is certainly a way out of this eco - disaster.

For Example:
1. Govt can start by converting all its vehicles (Govt owned) to
a less polluting LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) fuel?
2. Convert all public transport vehicles (city buses) to a LNG.
3. Open new Nuclear plants (France relies more than 90% on nuclear power to supply all its enery needs!!!)
4. Allow businnesses and all other companies to encourage (with perks, tax deductions) for employees to
use public transport)
5. Build more Wind power towers all across the country

One answer can be money, where can the Govt get so much money, answer is instead of throwing the money down the drain in wars a fraction of it can
solve lot of the environmental issues in this country.

Please offer your comments and answers.

Answer 1

The government not only should, but needs to take the initiative to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. The most important thing is to put a price on carbon emissions. They must also require much better fuel efficiency for new cars. Even China requires much higher fuel efficiency than the US! Fortunately the US appears to be taking a step in that direction:

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070606/fuel_economy.html?.v=7

Converting government and public transport vehicles to alternative fuel sources is also an important step, and they should follow NYC's lead, where they're planning to convert all taxis to hybrids by 2012. LNG is a good alternative, but it's also a limited resource, so we need to use other technologies such as hybrid and electric for government vehicles.

Another positive step would be to increase subsidies to individuals buying hybrids or other alternative fuel cars, rather than decreasing the subsides as the formerly Republican-controlled Congress did.

Building more wind farms, particularly in the midwest, is another important step. Also solar farms, particularly in areas with sunny weather for most of the year. Stop building coal burning power plants and don't let liquid coal become subsidized.

Answer 2

A pond is the biggest single thing. Make the sides slope gently so the bugs and creatures can get in and out easily. Pile some logs round the back and all sorts of animals will take up residence from frogs n the top penthouse apartments where they can dive out of the room into the water to hedgehogs at the bottom. Within a few weeks you will have waterboatmen, pond skaters, all sorts of other insects, possibly bats in the evening catching the bugs and the water plants are great too. See if you have a local freecycle group and ask for pond plants Anyone with a pond will have a bit of spare marsh mint of waterlily We had dragonflies in the second year. If you can find sticklebacks they are very amusing with their territorial behaviour. The other main thing is not to be too tidy - leave a few piles of sticks and leaves around for nesting in. A few nettles to encourage the butterflies including the tortoiseshells, and some trellis on the wall with a climber on it. Birds will love nesting in the space between the wall and the trellis. Cats are bad for garden wildlife so maybe get a dog as that will keep the cats away!

Answer 3

Absolutely. The government is supposed to be of the people, by the people, and for the people. If it's in the peoples best interest, why not.

If we just spent a fraction of what is spent on wars and put the money toward employing our greastest scientists to work on the problem like we did on the A bomb and the trip to the moon it would be solved.

Answer 4

Yes the real efforts have to be made in the parliaments. But we should remember govt in reality can only make laws. We people have to follow them. And we should remember that people are not willing to follow laws which reduce their profits. So its the drops which have to accumulate to do something big like an ocean.

Answer 5

The gov. can make it so that work places and citys to be eco-friendly. With the money the gov. has they can take action and stop the massive polution we're doing the the USA. other contries are also asking the USA to stop causing so much waste and use less gas.

Answer 6

yeah they should make all kinds of new laws. In fact they should tell us when adn where we can drive. They could make laws that tell us when to turn off our lights and when we can cook and with how much energy. They could make laws that ruin american auto makers, oh wait they already did that. They could tell us when to breath and limit the number of kids we have so we don't pollute in the future. Why should the government controll my life even more than they already do.

Answer 7

i totally agree that the government should take do something to create an eco friendly enviornment.

people want to do whats best for them without looking at the how their decisions will affect others.

most people wont go out of thier way to improve the enviroment.

Answer 8

Yes, I believe that the government needs to take action right now. We only have this planet that we can live on, so we need to take care of it..

Answer 9

Absolutely, any entity, corporate, government, or indiviual with the means to live more ecologically balanced should be doing it now.

Answer 10

government is by the people, for the people and of the people.
hence people should initiate to implement the programmes accordingly.