It is unquestionable that global warming is the single greatest challenge the world faces today. As a result, governments around the world are beginning to take urgent steps to mitigate its destructive impact. Nonetheless, the necessary action taken in order to ameliorate the capacity of global warming is arguably not altogether sufficient.
Government leaders must take immediate and decisive action in order to reduce emissions and combat Climate Change, an issue that directly affects all countries and all individuals around the world. Reductions in emissions require significant policy changes, such as taxation of polluting activities, a shift in energy generation from fossil fuels to renewable sources, and investment in green technology. However, the very nature of these changes can be difficult for leaders to implement, as the short-term financial implications often create opposition from large industry groups.
Yet, instead of developing policies that are unpopular but necessary, some governments are capitulating to the commercial interests of those who are directly profiting off the status quo. It’s noted that many nations have failed to enact any meaningful climate change legislation because of a reluctance to provide meaningful economic disincentives to those likely to be affected. Additionally, climate change scepticism, which often relies on exaggerated or outdated data, is often perpetuated by those with vested interests in keeping things as they are.
In addition to introducing stronger environmental policy, governments must make climate change education a priority. Climate change science has its foundation in hard facts, and remains one of the most important components of environmental activism in the modern world. Without genuine understanding of the climate change, policy makers have no chance of encouraging collective action. Unfortunately, curriculum in countries such as the United States of America and China falls well short of the level necessary for effective policy making. To demonstrate a genuine commitment to mitigating the impact of global warming, governments must ensure that robust climate change education is available to all.
The blame for the current state of affairs cannot be entirely placed on government though. Certain organizations are also responsible for the lack of general awareness and action on the issue of climate change. Media outlets, for example, often fail to adequately report on climate change and its implications, contributing to a culture in which the impact of individual action on global warming is widely underestimated. This attitude of apathy must be addressed if governments are to be successful in their efforts to combat the issue and avert a climate catastrophe.
In short, it is fair to say that governments are not doing enough to tackle global warming. Systemic disincentives and a lack of clear policy choices, combined with inaccurate and misleading information still present in society, have limited the effectiveness of governmental initiatives. And, for these reasons, governments must be actively involved in developing meaningful legislation and enforcing this legislation through strict financial and non-financial penalties.
Public awareness and media engagement are also vital, as evidenced by the success of the Global Climate Strikes in 2019, the extent of which was only made possible by public education and persuasion. For real progress to be made and a climate catastrophe to be avoided, it will take a truly collective effort, incorporating all aspects of society, to bring about meaningful change.
