Who do you consider to be the main responsible for reducing our emissions?

Question

The individual, our governments or any other organization?

Answer 1

Answering as a United States citizen for the conditions we are facing in the US:
1) Individuals can change much more rapidly than local, state, and federal governments (really though does the government even want to when they edit science reports that don't match their with their goals).
2) Individuals can change more rapidly than big business. Individuals must change and then they must demand that government and business follow suit. Basically we have to tell them, 'if big government or big business you do not get on board today we will not reelect you or buy your products and services'.

3) Even if they did act today they have done disservice to the community at large and in the case of the petrolchemical industry it's my view that they have acted criminally. Government has neglected their trusted duty of watch dog. While I'm at it the media is so worried about a story that a large enough audience will watch that they don't even see anymore.

So the individual is left with the daunting task of vigilance against waste, fraud, ignorance. I'm afraid this means us small but good folks will have to think before we act about everything. Every penny spent either improves the environment or destroys the environment. Exercise your commitment to improving the environment through the everyday dollar and cent choices that you make.

Answer 2

Reducing emissions is everyone's responsibility. Our government can change laws concerning emissions all it wants to, but if the public ignores the laws and doesn't do their part to control polution, it is a lost cause. The biggist peoblem is that most of the public will complain about it, but when it comes to their inconvienence they are not willing to do their part to help. Not using charcoal grills, shortening the time they warm up their cars in the morning, turning up or down their home thermostats to conserve energy, not recycling plastics, glass, and other materials. There are so many things that play a key roll in wasting our natural resourses. Now let's not leave the government out of this. I don't know if this is true or not, but I read one time that every time they launch a space shuttle, it punches a hole in the o-zone layer and also the shuttles exhaust produces enough flourocarbons as 1000 autos idling for 12 months for each launch. I would say that this was significant if it is true. I don't know that it is, but it was on the internet about a year ago. We can also keep in mind that the wars we are in also waste energy. Trucks and generators running, ships tranporting solders back and forth, etc. The world is growing so fast and there are so many people that don't care enough to get involved and do their part in conserving, that at the rate that the human race is going now, in another 500 to 1000 years, this planet will no longer sustain life. Take care.

Answer 3

That's a tough one. Certainly individuals need to take responsibility for reducing our emissions, but if we don't then it's up to the government to require these reductions if necessary (and it is necessary). Then again, it's tough for the government to act if the population doesn't demand action.

I believe it was in George Monbiot's 'Heat' where he said the people might call for change, but secretly they don't want it. They want the government to seem as though it's seeking greenhouse gas emissions, but in the end to fail. That way we can continue to live our comfortable lives and blame the government for our failures.

So in the end I'd say it's mainly the individuals who are responsible for emissions reductions. The government can't act without our support.

Answer 4

The government is the best answer but it would mean that they would have to gradually change the way things are manufactured, among other things. As an example, the production of plastic bags that are given out so freely at shopping counters ( a major pollutant of land and sea ). Surely there should be legislation that would "grandfather" such bags and force the manufacturers to come up with a really biodegradable bag. I am thinking hemp, but what do I know? In the meantime people can take their own bags to the store and recycle when they can. Yes, governments should put their best experts to work on environmental problems and be firm about introducing the necessary legislation. Damn the lobbyists and full steam ahead!

Answer 5

Since all of the proposed action by the federal government in America have been smoke screens to hide the fact that they aren't doing anything and aren't planning to do anything in the near future, I would have to say that the local government and the INDIVIDUAL are the ones that are the main ones responsible for reducing our collective carbon footprint.

To find out how you can evaluate yourself, get the facts about Global Warming, and how you can effectively and cheaply reduce your daily impact go to think.mtv.com and climatecrisis.org

Answer 6

why do people always assume it is the Gov that should fix things.. when the gov has never fixed anything in history... the gov is full of people that could not get real jobs... kinda of the worst the population has to offer... the private sector on the other hand as and will always fix any problem the world has to offer it... emissions... i see nothing wrong with what we are putting out right now.. facts are this.. if the US stopped 100% of the emissions it would change nothing..by the end of 2010 there will be more cars in china.. than people in the US...they are not going to reduce anything in that nation at all... i would also point out that it is the tree hugging hippies in the US that stopped us from using nuke power in the 70s and 80s.. so we could use the nastiest form of power known in history... coal fire power... thats you loser enviromental wackos,, I would also point this out

Mysterious Solar Ripples Detected Dave Mosher
Staff Writer
SPACE.com
Thu Aug 30, 2:30 PM ET
____
i bet with in.. ohh.. say 10 years we find out global warming is the 2000 version of the 1970s global cooling.. FAKE

Answer 7

We're all responsible. As individuals we take responsibility. The government is made up of "we the people". Vote accordingly. If you feel compelled get involved w/ an organization!! Sounds like your mindset is already on the right track.

Answer 8

I think it is every-ones responsibility the laws need to be set and come from government ,the ways factories do things is their responsibility
The individual, our governments or any other organisation are all needed to work together to achieve a good out come

Answer 9

The individual i dont like the idea of the government telling me what i can drive or where i can go its called socialism possibly could be considered communism.

good answer afffrata thats what i was thinking.

Answer 10

All of the above. Governments and Organizations can be no more responsible or moral than the people who make them up.

Anyone producing them, or using products that produce them when they are made or transported is responsible..