Protecting our planet: A challenge for the future

Daniel
Meridian Junior College
Singapore

Imagine an apocalyptic wasteland, with small groups of humans living like prehistoric cavemen huddled in caves. Outside, it is devoid of life. No, this is not a vivid description of the world a million years ago. This is, according to environmentalists, one of the many projections for the future of the Earth. Some call it nonsense. However, we cannot ignore it, as it is a possible 'tomorrow' that the world could suffer.

There are many dangers that our world faces, but the most major problem is the spectre of global warming. Global warming, to put it in the simplest terms, is a danger because of rapidly rising temperatures. It causes a myriad of problems, such as deaths from malaria and heatstroke, just to name a few, and an ever-increasing number of storms and floods, heat waves and rising sea levels. If nothing is done to prevent it striking full-force, the only trace of ‘civilisation' may be a page from a dictionary lying at the bottom of the sea.

So what can be done to help prevent this and protect our planet from this cancerous threat? I will put forward a series of three proposals to nip the problem in the bud. These will range from the local level to the global level.

First, nations must embark on a sincere campaign to raise public awareness of the dangers of global warming. This is to ensure that, at the local level, individuals do their part to help protect the environment. This includes education on the three Rs, which stands for 'recycle, reuse and reduce'. This is a strong starting point for keeping the environment clean and green. A good basis for these campaigns could be the 'Green Singapore' campaign, which aims at young children through to adults. One of the latest measures is the use of youths as 'environmental police' to be on the lookout for offenders of the nation's 'clean and green' rules. However, there can be problems with such a measure. The public may not be disciplined enough to adhere to such campaigns and policies. In addition, as with any government-initiated campaign, many may disregard it as propaganda. In the words of Minister Mentor Mr Lee Kuan Yew, 'it requires a population that is trained not to pollute its own environment' (Straits times, 2005). The public must be made aware of the serious consequences of their actions, and that they are not doing it for the government but for future generations. To motivate the people, incentives may be offered such as providing discounts to individuals shopping at supermarkets who do not use plastic bags. Such a measure would raise the public's awareness in terms of how they can help protect the world they live in.

Another way the public can help protect the environment is by reducing their usage of private transport. By using public transport, the public can help in reducing the emission of harmful gases. For example, in heavily populated cities, such as Bangkok and Beijing, the high number of private cars has literally shrouded them in thick smog, especially during peak hours. If the public transport system is not, however, of an acceptable standard, the public may prefer to choose private transport. It is important, therefore, to achieve and maintain a top-notch system like the Singapore Public Transport System. Increasing car prices to discourage car ownership is a perfectly viable solution, but politicians may be reluctant to do this as it may jeopardize their positions in office. They need to realise that the problem is jeopardizing more than just their office. Thus, through transport, the public can do its part for the environment.

Moving on to the international level, emphasis must be placed on the Kyoto Protocol. Here is just a brief background: the goal of the Kyoto Protocol, which came into effect on the sixteenth of February 2005, is to lower greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. The United States and Australia have not signed the Protocol. The United States releases more greenhouse gases than any other nation. It alone accounts for some 25 per cent of all gases generated by humans worldwide. It refused to ratify the Kyoto Protocol as, in the words of the Senate itself, they fear it 'would result in serious harm to the economy of the United States' (Byrd-Hagel Resolution, 1997). Due to the US's role in the emission of greenhouse gases, its refusal to participate in the Protocol may render it a failure. In order to help it succeed, the US needs to ratify and actively participate in the Protocol. This may be possible with the Democrat takeover of Congress. However, the Protocol has its limitations as well. Even if the developed nations reduce their usage of fossil fuels, this would only make such fuels affordable for developing countries. This would ultimately not remove the problem but simply shift it geographically. More binding actions need to be taken to help protect the planet.

Lastly, at the global level, all nations need to undertake research for finding alternative energy sources to fossil fuels. Possible alternatives include solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and nuclear power. Each of these alternatives has their own advantages and disadvantages. I would recommend nuclear energy. It is the cleanest energy source, is renewable and inexpensive to harness. It does not require a lot of space and does not pollute the environment with greenhouse gases. However, nuclear energy is facing criticisms, which need to be overcome. Many view nuclear energy and uranium enrichment as a sign of nuclear weaponry development. It needs responsibility from the governments to ensure that nuclear energy is harnessed for people's energy needs, rather than into missiles. Nuclear facilities also need tiptop maintenance and care or else the world could suffer the spectacle of another Chernobyl. Responsible use might protect our world from global warming, but irresponsible use might devastate it.

In conclusion, there are many ways in which the people of the world can protect it, right down from the local level to the national level and finally the global level.

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