Karney 1

Eric Karney
Ms. Rager
HELA II
7 May 2015
Government Involvement in Conservation FRQ
In recent years, issues regarding the environment have become cornerstone arguments to
many people. Some argue that the government should play a pivotal role in creating a more ecofriendly world, while others disagree, saying that movements led by the government could hurt
the current global economy, threatening peoples jobs and livelihoods. However, it is clear that
some form of leadership is required to transform the world into a more environmentally aware
place. To promote a nation that is able to protect and provide stewardship for the environment,
the government must lead the movement through taxes on wasteful practices and industries,
incentives for conservation companies, habits, and legislation that limit the use of wasteful
energy sources and industries that continue to dominate the current economy. The transition to a
nation that promotes conversation practices and policies is an arduous task that requires support
and leadership from that government to fully involve the entire nation for the needed protection
for the environment. The task ahead requires the complete support of united groups rather than
individuals propelled by capitalist motives.
To transition into an eco-friendly nation and economy, government taxes to promote
conservation industries and practices are required to change the relationship between humanity
and its environment. A survey from the Energy Information Administration demonstrated the
United States along with other nations accounted for 54% of the worlds total emissions of
carbon dioxide (Rheault). To change this dire statistic, the United States could follow the model

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of Singapore, who has a similar business-driven mindset, specifically their governments
practices on conservation, taxes are the other energy-conserving measure adopted by the
Singaporean government (Webber). To provide incentives to not buy private cars while
concurrently promoting and funding the public transportation system, Singapore has adopted a
required permit to buy a car. Currently, the cost of this permit is $10,000 for a midsized vehicle.
The money from this permit then goes into paying for their public transportation system. The
United States uses 67% of all its oil for transportation needs according to the United States
Department of Energy. Instead, utilizing taxes can diminish the American dependence on
antediluvian transportation that requires large amounts of fossil fuels.
In addition, government involvement can promote the growth of environmentallysupportive industries, which are currently growing because of the worlds increased conservation
awareness. The Singaporean government has also adopted policies that encourage the growth of
conservation practices and products, The government awards a lump sum tax rebate of 40% of
the price of a vehicle to Singaporeans who opt for hybrids (Webber). Incentives such as these
encourage the public to support and spend their money on products that will allow the
environment to decrease the negative effects brought to it by human practices. Americans also
waste energy with inefficient habits at home. According to the United States Department of
Energy, ... a large portion of that energy is wasted. And each year, electricity generated by fossil
fuels for a single home puts more carbon dioxide into the air than two average cars (U.S.
Department of Energy). Government promotion of better domestic practices will allow the
United States to decrease its fuel consumption and carbon footprint in the areas that are currently
the proponents of the largest wastes.

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Government regulation on the arising green industries through legislation will also
promote genuinely conservation movements in the economy, which is currently saturated with
companies that advertise using green as a buzzword. Legislation that targets outdated practices
and industries will promote the invention of new practices that promote conservation, When
laws limit people, human ingenuity finds its foothold and invention takes the place of
convention (Winters). Such intervention could lead to new inventions that now seem impossible
but with new found American ingenuity are entirely possible. However, some argue that
government intervention will lead to Countless practical difficulties [that] would arise in trying
to wean the U.S. economy from todays fossil fuels (Samuelson). The argument is flawed,
because during the progressive era, similar opponents stated that the creation of collective
bargaining and protections for workers will lead to decreased industrial production, but instead it
spurred the national economy of the United States and prevented countless possible accidents. In
a supply-demand economy such as the United States, government intervention is required to
make the transition to a more environmentally-supportive economy from todays current model.
Support for conservation movements continues to grow as new jobs and industries are
created. Still, the rate of this growth is miniscule compared to the modern consumption of
traditional fossil fuels that have led to environmental issues. Government regulation is required
to promote the decreased dependence on traditional fuel sources and energies through taxes,
create incentives that lead to the increase of conservation industries, jobs, and products, and
legislation to promote these new industries and provide for the stewardship of the environment.
Leadership is required to make the transition and such leadership from the United States will
provide the world an example with government involvement that seeks to better the lives and
environments of its citizens and the world.