Answer

Environmental Concerns and Policy

 (Insert Name)

(Address)

(City, Code)

22/8/2020

The Honorable (Senator’s Name)

(Address)

Texas, SC. 29200-0242

Dear Sir,

RE: IMPLEMENTATION OF ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION POLICY

            The purpose of this policy paper is to lobby you to support the already implemented economic environmental protection policy. As you are aware, Texas has experienced a protracted history of environmental degradation and pollution that has posed threats to people and other living creatures. As a honorable member, I believe that you are critical to my goal because you are well versed with various environmental policies and rules that can be implemented to ensure safe environment for everyone. As a senator, I believe that you will articulate issues raised herein clearly to other members of the senate so that they can make informed decisions regarding the implementation of the proposed economic environmental protection policy. Enclosed herein, kindly find reasons and arguments for the already implemented economic environmental protection policy.

Problem Definition

             Although the government has enacted myriad of environmental protection policies, our country continues to witness unprecedented environmental challenges such as resource depletion, climate change, ecosystem damage, species extinction, as well as, toxic water and air pollution (Fisher, 2000). Despite countrywide recognition and acknowledgement of these detrimental environmental challenges and despite an increasing list of policies to handle these issues, the reality is that environmental pollutions continue to worsen. Essentially, citizens have failed to adhere to policies, rules, and regulations enacted to ensure that the environment is protected from unnecessary pollutions.

Analysis of the Problem

             As a country, we are becoming more worried about our environment that our citizens continue to use irrespective of any remorse or any past positive intention. Environmental pollution has been a major challenge that can be addressed peacefully but we are incapable of forecasting the recovery period concerning our actions and duration required to repair our country. Because of this, myriad of policies and rules for the public have been formulated to assist us tackle this challenge. However, most of these rules and policies seemed to have been formulated for firms with the aim of disrupting balance of environment through processes such as drilling, cutting and mining materials. As a fact, the environment is steadily being depleted. Currently, our area only possesses 10% of forest in the entire region that initially spread over 80% of the world. Among the stated 10%, about 5% are reserved forest zones while remaining percentage is decreasing unprecedentedly (Lewis, 2012).

            To eradicate this challenge, policies and rules have been established. However, citizens continue to ignore such policies. As a fact, Stewart et al. (2008) noted that mills continue to emit smokestacks that spread across the regions. Similarly, the farms have taken over the lands of previous rain forests, which were considered habitats for millions of plants and animals. The processing plants for boats continue to threaten the lives of aquatic population. Essentially, citizens were supposed to be in the frontline towards protecting the environment as they continue to use the environmental resources. Sadly, they have ignored that and instead continued to encroach the land thereby posing new problems to the environment. Although scholars have argued that our region depicts a tendency of resilience while being able to overcome the threats it has been subjected to, the blatant refusal of people to adhere to environmental policies is likely to make such efforts futile. Following the technological advancement, people are trying to reap the highest benefit from the environment that consequently continues to make them to disregard environmental protection rules and policies.

            Public policies have played a silent yet a critical role in helping the environment regain. Although it has not contributed hugely to the course, it has atleast played a role with the purpose in mind. Within the context of global warming and air-water pollution, the entire globe has compelled us to establish few frames for protecting the environment. Our state agencies have joined hands in an attempt to minimize global warming. Although, we currently have myriad of laws and regulations for that purpose, we have to move with speed to improve the climate conditions while reducing the damages caused by a significant margin.

             Findings of a study by Theodoulou and Kofinis (2012) have revealed that industrialization is the major factor that contributes to increased temperatures across the earth’s surface. These findings further indicated that the average temperature of the world would rise to 6.3 Celsius within 2100 in case emission of greenhouse gas is not reduced. In case this statement is true, we will be forced to adapt to increased occurrences of drought, floods, and heat waves. Clearly, this indicates that the climate we wholly rely on will soon threaten our lives. It also shows how people who are supposed to be responsible continue to contribute to damages forced upon the world. Policies and summits have critical roles to play towards ensuing environmental protection. However, it is quite early to expect positive outcomes from them until such a time when our citizens will stop polluting or damaging the environment. A critical issue has emerged recently and the main worry has been on how to change people’s mindset. Abruptly, the environment has become a critical issue, which has caused myriad of policies and rules to be formulated to help the environment sustain itself (Theodoulou, &Kofinis, 2012). Undoubtedly, our environment is experiencing myriad of challenges and the only way to deal with these issues is to enact new policies and agencies that can move with speed to address environmental degradation that is almost getting out of hand.   

Recommendations

             Some of the major policies that the government should put in place to ensure sustainable environment encompass working together with other states across the country and over the world to raise local and international assistance aimed at projects that are considered environmental friendly. Secondly, the federal government should foster public-private collaborations to fund projects and offer expert views for our region. This will not only enable us to deal with the environmental challenges but also pay way for the financial growth of our region.

            Another critical policy that I think can work best towards eradicating environmental challenge our state continues to experience is the reduction of expenditures within homes while implementing stringent measures and laws for minimizing emission of harmful substances to the environment. First, the federal government should provide subsidies to firms and other households. The government should offer subsidies as the best alternative to burning coal. Offering subsidy will increase the competitiveness of solar power and encourage its widespread development and adoption. Personally, the subsidy is justified since widespread growth and adoption of solar power has a considerable positive externally. Although some people have argued that subsidies may be misused because some firms may take the subsidy but hold on money for additional profits instead of designing alternative source of energy, subsidy will eradicate the blatant disregard of environmental policies and regulations by firms and households thereby safeguarding the environment.

            No one can deny the fact that the federal government has enacted myriad of policies and regulations to reduce environmental pollution and degradation. However, no policy has been implemented that restricts the number of pollutants emitted to the air. Therefore, I believe that the federal government should implement a policy that clearly defines specific pollutants that should be emitted to the air. Essentially, this regulation will help establish clearly defined goals and ensure that pollution levels within our region are indeed reduced instead of the government depending on the market based that has failed to work for several years now. Just like Clean Air Act that was enacted in the year 1956 to minimize the visible smog within cities across the world, the federal government should move with speed to enact regulation that ban the use of coal in domestic homes within our state (Barnard, 2006). Although concerns are likely to emerge concerning such regulations, particularly with regards to its implementation, it is prudent to note that with good public awareness and involvement of all government agencies and offices, the regulations will be implemented effectively and with ease.

            Findings of a study by Fisher (2000) revealed that implementing any policy requires raising awareness so that so that the target audience can change their behavior. In line with this viewpoint, the federal government should encourage households and citizens to change their behaviors by using nudges from behavioral theory to foster various behaviors that dejects pollution. For instance, there is need for the federal government to erect signs everywhere reminding drivers and motorists to swift off their engines when waiting to pick passengers. On the same note, it is high time the federal government implemented pollution permits, which refers to a marked oriented scheme tailored towards minimizing pollution and enticing industries to minimize the amount of pollution they create. Intuitively, permits because a financial incentive to minimize pollution since one can later sell his or her excess permits to other industries. While many people can attest that implementing pollution permit can be challenging since it is difficult to determine the precise number of permits to issue, the policy works best when the government is very strict.

            In conclusion, although the government has enacted legislation measures and policies to ensure environmental protection, a well and clear organized force to execute these responsibilities have been missing. This has seen blatant neglect of these policies and regulations since individuals who pollute the environment do not get any punishment for their actions. As a member of the national assembly, I believe that issues raised herein are weighty and will compel you to lobby other honorable members so that a well-organized task force can be formed that will oversee the implementation of the environmental policies suggested here and those already in the public domain.