It Takes Two - Combatting Climate Change with Government and People

Timmy Zhang

Since he [Bolsonaro] became president, he has been the worst for us,” Raoni Metuktire, the 92-year-old Kayapo leader, watched in vain how their Amazon ancestral lands were tarnished by industries’ insatiable greed. Under Bolsonaro, 1.4 billion trees fell in the name of profit (Watts). Fortunately, this dire situation improved after Lula da Silva, assuming the Brazilian presidency, cracked down on rampant mining as well as logging and hence reduced the deforestation rate by half (Scherer).

     Indeed, government intervention exerts a profound influence on the environment, yet economic interests and political ambitions often impede effective decision-making. So, to better combat climate change, collaboration and compromise between the general public and government institutions are crucial.

     Comparatively, government decisions wield considerable impact on the climate. Governments own 90% of carbon emissions from agriculture, transportation, and energy production, while individual choices contribute only 10% (Center for Climate and Energy Solutions). Holding significant influence, the government serves as a sharp double-edged sword, capable of both promoting and hindering decarbonization. Thus, while advocating for greener individual lifestyles is commendable, targeting government intervention yields more conspicuous results.

     Still, government actions often face many roadblocks.

Economic development poses one challenge as nations prioritizing wealth generation favor petroleum, being cheap down to 10.8 cents per gallon, over costly renewable energy sources like solar and wind and potentially hazardous nuclear options (Povey). Political ambitions further complicate progress, with authoritarian regimes like Russian oligarchs influencing Gazprom and other natural gas companies for personal gains (Law), while democratic regimes shape policies favoring oil corporations like ExxonMobil (Colgan). These conflicting interests complicate climate action efforts, especially as poorer nations seek opportunities to reduce poverty while appeasing powerful corporate players for assistance.

     To overcome these policy barriers, collaboration between government and the public is key. Harvard Kennedy School lecturer Marshall Ganz emphasizes the effectiveness of grassroots activism, which is decentralized social movements stemming from individuals and communities, alongside government efforts (Pazzanese). Our society, a body system, relies on government power serving as a mind and civil engagement as individual bolts. While the government favors strong executive power, we prioritize actions in our neighbor environments, feeling incentivized as close stakeholders. Such shared interests foster a collective drive to balance sustainability and financial gain while resisting corporate interference in decarbonization efforts, and progress will be evident through advancements in green technologies, transitioning to renewables, and replacing polluting industries. As climate change unequivocally impacts every facet of our society, proactive endorsement from both governments and individuals alike is essential.

In the end, no one can evade the impacts or accountability of climate change, and our world is and will be mired in the perils of escalating catastrophes, species extinction, and extreme weather. To halt its worsening and address its causes, we must work with the government, a powerful social institution. Every small step from us congregates and forms a giant leap for one earth and mankind.

References:

Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. “Global Emissions - Center for Climate and Energy Solutions.” Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, 1 Dec. 2022, www.c2es.org/content/international-emissions.

Colgan, Jeff D. “Opinion | Exxon Mobil’s Pioneer Deal Is a Direct Threat to Democracy.” The New York Times, 19 Oct. 2023, www.nytimes.com/2023/10/18/opinion/exxon-pioneer-climate-change.html.

Law, Tara. “Gazprom Is Launching a ‘Private Military.’ Could It Be the Next Wagner Group?” TIME, 14 Feb. 2023, time.com/6254708/gazprom-private-military-wagner-group-russia.

Pazzanese, Christina. “‘What Is Compelling to Do Right Now?’” Harvard Gazette, 15 Jan. 2024, news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2023/09/how-marshall-ganz-found-his-calling-as-activist-scholar-mentor.

Povey, Oliver. “Which Countries Have the Cheapest Gas Prices in the World?” Diario AS, 30 Oct. 2023, en.as.com/latest_news/which-countries-have-the-cheapest-gas-prices-in-the-world-n.

Scherer, Glenn. “Bolsonaro’s Brazil: 2019 Brings Death by 1,000 Cuts to Amazon — Part One.” Mongabay Environmental News, 31 Dec. 2019, news.mongabay.com/2019/12/bolsonaros-brazil-2019-brings-death-by-1000-cuts-to-amazon-part-one.

Watts, Jonathan. “Amazonian Chief Raoni Metuktire: ‘Bolsonaro Has Been the Worst for Us.’” The Guardian, 25 Aug. 2021, www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/02/amazonian-chief-raoni-metuktire-bolsonaro-has-been-the-worst-for-us.