Hi guys, please let me know what you think.
Quote:
“ Government needs to regulate industry to ensure that the environment is protected. Without regulation, companies will always strive for profits at the expense of the natural world. ”
Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the opinion stated above. Support your position with reasons and/or examples from your experience, observations, or reading.
I agree with the opinion stated above, I firmly believe the government should protect the environment through regulation. Regulation when it relates to corporations is important for the simple fact that the sole purpose of a corporation is to generate revenue for their shareholders. Due to the high cost of a protecting the environment from a corporation’s manufacturing process, corporations will cut corners to increase its bottom-line revenue.
With respect to the oil industry, over-drilling and over-consumption of oil has been absolutely hazardous to the environment. Recent reports have suggested that polar bears are now endangered due to global warming. As a result of the polar ice caps melting, these reports have indicated that the average weight of polar bears have decreased over the years. Furthermore, scientists have discovered an increasing number of polar bears who have drowned as a result of swimming further and further out for food.
For many years General Electric in New Jersey had dumped thousands of tons of pollutants into the river. While I understand their reluctance to clean up the waste due to the cost, it is environmentally irresponsible. Through many lawsuits, protests and acts of boycotting, General Electric agreed to clean up the rivers their pollutants flowed into. This is a prime example of a corporation who, out of necessity to their shareholders, will continue to pollute the environment if unregulated.
The government will soon be taking steps towards regulation in order to curb emissions by allowing corporations to trade emission credits. These credits will allow those who over pollute the environment to offset their effect by purchasing more credits. It will also be a source of revenue for companies such as Timberland, who is carbon neutral and sell their credits on the market.
The reasons indicated above clearly demonstrate my support of the opinion stated above. Although corporations do exist to generate revenue for their shareholders, they have a responsibility to the individuals of the community and the country as a whole to provide a habitable environment for animals and humans alike.
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