English Essay FA:

Amanda Chia (1) 413

Conservation of the environment is more important than the pursuit of economic gains. Do you agree? Increasing carbon emissions, global warming, pollution, logging and deforestation are all key contributors to environmental degradation. Given todays circumstances, where much harm is being done to the environment in the course of mans pursuit of economic gains through industrialization, the question that needs to be addressed is whether or not conservation of the environment takes precedence over mans never-ending pursuit of economic gains. The answer is a definite yes, conservation of the environment is more important than the selfish pursuit of economic gains. Conservation of the environment is defined as the practice of protecting and preventing further harm from being done to the environment, which encompasses the physical environment (such as rainforests, oceans and coral reefs) as well as the living organisms, namely the plants and animals that exist all around us. Practices that protect and prevent harm to the environment can be small-scale, which includes individual efforts done within the home, and can also be large-scale, which includes national and international campaigns and conservation initiatives. It is evident that mans pursuit for economic gains has been detrimental to the environment. In order to achieve economic gains, man has exploited the environment and natural resources. Poaching, logging and deforestation are examples of how man has harmed the environment. Mans economic activities have also polluted and harmed the environment. Offices and factories set up by man, to achieve economic gains, consume energy from non-renewable resources, which often result in the depletion of these natural resources, as well as the release of harmless pollutants into the air and sea. However, man cannot continue on this path of environmental destruction. It is of utmost importance that man learns to put aside their selfish ambition and pursuit of economic gains and contribute the environmental conservation efforts. Conservation of the environment is more important than the pursuit of economic gains because the environment is our legacy to the next generation and needs to be conserved. We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. If man continues to destroy the environment in our quest for economic gains, environmental degradation cause by our selfish actions will leave future generations with nothing but withered trees, extinct animals and a multitude of natural calamities brought about by global warming. Hence, we should prioritise environmental conservation and protection over economic pursuits so as to leave behind a thriving, sustainable environment for the future generations to enjoy. Conservation of the environment is more important than the pursuit of economic gains because the onslaught of negative effects of environmental degradation would nullify and negate the benefits of economic gains. Money makes the world go round. But when the world is in peril due to the natural calamities such as floods, droughts, acid rain, famines and earthquakes brought about by the harm man inflicts on the

environment, money is practically useless since no amount of economic gain can compensate for the loss incurred by the destruction of the environment. Some may argue that the pursuit of economic gains is essential for countries to develop and for people to break out of the poverty cycle, even at the expense of the environment. They view economic success and development as highly important and environmental conservation efforts are lower on their priority list, simply because economic gains is equivalent to more money, which fulfils mans inherent greed for material wealth. However, if conservation of the environment is deemed as less important than economic pursuits, environmental degradation will continue and result in the extinction of wildlife species, destruction of natural habitats, depletion of natural resources as well as calamities which would negatively impact mankind. How then can man continue with our pursuit for economic gains when the environment is in turmoil? Environmental conservation is definitely one of the most pressing matters to be addressed at this point in time. Economic gains are less important than the conservation of the environment as it is imperative for man to change their perspectives and get their priorities straight, and to acknowledge that environmental conservation is indeed more important than the pursuit of economic gains.