The rise of mankind and technology has taken a toll on the Earth. Exponential population growth and skyrocketing demands for resources has led to the exploitation of the environment to provide resources, while also being conveniently used as a dumping ground. This is fueled by each country's desire for development and prosperity.
Conservation of the environment has largely been an action-reaction approach. Only when problems arise, will there be corrective actions. The Kyoto Protocol was implemented as a result of increasing emissions contributing to global warming; Ganga Action Plan came about due to heavy pollution in the Ganges River; and efforts to protect the Amazon Rainforest arose due to rapid deforestation. The conflict between growth and environmental protection is ever-present due to the urge to employ quicker and more convenient methods in both production and consumption which are usually more harmful to the environment.
Awareness of the need to conserve the environment has greatly risen due to wider media coverage, access to internet, increase in education and a more polluted environment. However, each country's goals remain the same - development, prosperity, and a higher standard of living. The pursuit of these goals does not coincide with environmental conservation. In addition, every country has problems and priorities which are deemed more pressing than environmental issues: sovereignty, civil unrest, poverty, hunger, and political power are a few possible problems.
The importance of sovereignty can be seen from the presence of military in almost every nation, consuming massive amounts of resources on military equipment and causing pollution through exercises. Even in peacetime, there is a need for deterrence measures, as sovereignty enables a nation to rule itself. Countries that face problems such as civil unrest, poverty, and hunger will not have the resources or the priority to focus on environmental issues. Ruling parties in nations will always contest to stay in power, and they do so by focusing on demographic issues and welfare. Usually, attention to environmental issues will only be given when people's welfare are jeopardised by environmental problems.
The individual plays a significant part in environmentalism. While authorities tend to focus on "more pressing" natters, individuals can remind them the importance of environmental issues. Non-government organisations (NGOs) such as Greenpeace and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) are examples of how individuals can assert their influence. In fact, sometimes NGOs are invited to environmental conferences alongside nations to express their views.
In view of a greater awareness on environmental issues, a shift from corrective actions to preventive actions in addressing environmental issues will be easier. Individuals have to play even more active roles to influence and persuade the authorities in taking a "greener" stance. With less fundamental problems, developed countries should lead the way to promote environmentalism. Although environmentalism does not yet play a big enough role for the environmental issues caused, the future remains optimistic.
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