What exactly do we owe the environment? Every person might
answer this question differently, but its significance will always be the same:
destroying the planet means endangering the human race. A lot of people are
comfortable with the idea that things will work themselves out because humans
have always found a way to survive, but the planet will soon face irreversible
changes that even the human race is not immune to.
Last semester, I came across the following image online,
and it stuck with me:
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| Please note that, unfortunately, I do not have the original source for this photo because I saved it on my phone several months ago from a blog post on Tumblr. However, this quote has been attributed to Dr. Guy McPherson, who is a professor from the University of Arizona. |
The quote used in the picture directly relates to issues
such as fossil fuels and carbon emissions, which affect the climate in areas
like the Adirondacks. Even though the economy is important, it will not mean
anything if the human race goes extinct because the earth is no longer
inhabitable. At some point, the environment has to come before the economy
since it affects human, animal, and plant health as well as their quality of
life. When the air and water are polluted and the climate is out of control,
then the economy will not be very important. The economy is only important when
there is an earth to regulate, and we owe the environment more than bare
minimum. Species cannot just survive on the earth, they have to live, and in
order to live, the environment must be taken care of.
Even if the planet will not be in immediate danger within
someone’s generation, that does not necessarily mean they have any less
responsibility to the planet than the following generations. It is the
responsibility of older generations to leave the planet in the same—if not a
better—condition as they experienced it. This responsibility is innate, and it
cannot be taken away. The responsibility does not begin once the destruction
starts; it begins as a preventative measure to protect the planet that allows
life to exist in the first place.
I completely agree with your view on the importance of the environment over the economy in the long run. In today's society, people are more inclined to think about the short term effects of their actions instead of the long term effects. For example, someone might prefer to buy a product that is cheaper even though it is less environmentally friendly because they do not have to deal with the environmental problems that result. This problem is not one that can be fixed quickly there are so many conflicting opinions on the extent to which we should go to save the environment. Therefore, I believe the only solution is trying to raise awareness of the need for sustainable development, or meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. People need to be more conscious of the long term effects of their actions and keep in mind those who will suffer as a result of hasty decisions.
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