To What Extent Should Government Get Involved in "going Green"

Recent years have seen a popular globalized effort to "go green." In a world of troubled economies and waning resources, there has been a unified global attention to environmentally friendly alternatives. The implementation of "green" practices still remain inconclusive and there exists a blurred sense of who's responsibility such practices fall on. While the government can promote green practices, offer incentives, and impose regulations, the government feasibly cannot have a direct involvement in the implementation of these alternatives. Rather, the burden must come from our own moral obligation to make a difference. Using government as a scapegoat and as societal problem solvers will not be the answer; it must start with us.

The government, for all matters, can only do so much or enforce so many regulations to ensure people abide by their rules. While direct government involvement in environmental issues would be ideal, environmental issues stem from much more than just factories. While factory and large corporation pollution do contribute to our environmental dilemma, it is the personal choices we as citizens make that largely exacerbate this problem, as "electricity generated from by fossil fuels for a single home puts more carbon dioxide into the air than two average cars"(Source F). Thus, government involvement should not be as direct as we may believe. While we are too accustomed to using the government as a scapegoat for unresolved issues, some solutions to this environmental catastrophe lie within our moral obligations as citizens. Government can help promote solutions by fueling our ambition to do so. While cynical or not, most people pursue things that result in benefit; if the well being of the environment doesn't motivate people to go the extra block and find a recycling bin, or turn off a light when not in use, incentives and other tax breaks might find people walking an extra five blocks. Source B described the success Singapore's government achieved while promoting tax cuts for those who "opted to drive a hybrid" instead of "high power, gas muzzling engines." Source A continues to stress the benefit of incentives as the author believes "incentives are worthwhile. Penalties for for overindulgence are worthwhile." There is a need good citizenship rather than have governments strip away or enforce hefty polices. It "is more important that society train itself in the mindset of good stewardship than it is that the electric car obliterate the need for oil inside of 10 years."

While direct and heavy government involvement may not be the answer, government does have its responsibilities in helping us attain a green society. Governments can promote and prioritize environmental issues to foster a globalized understanding of the harmful implications inactivity will result in. Education and