Who is responsible for ensuring that nations grow their economies in an environmentally sustainable way?
 Previous Question Which is the most important energy-related factor for you?| Poll Archive | Next Question Is it the job of the United States to promote energy efficiency and clean energy production in nations such as India and China? Energy and GrowthComments (9)
Individual energy users, i.e., everyone, must be responsible in their use of energy. However, leaders of individual countries must take responsibility for national policy decisions concerning energy. Individuals are responsible for electing officials who have clear and reasoned policies and goals for our environment. Individual governments should compete with one another for the strongest environmental policies and goals. The U.S.A. has an enormous amount of "catching up" to do. Hopefully the 2008 elections will send a very clear and concise message to our government regarding the environment. 
Leaders must lead - individuals are not responsible
Who voted "No One." Do 21% of the people really think that no one has to take responsibility for the developing countries?? Just because they are across the globe doesn't mean that what they do won't affect us and everyone else in the world. What happens to the Earth and the environment affects all of us!
We can't rely on individual leaders because they all too frequently have their own agenda which usually doesn't include the well being of their own nation. We must all work together to achieve the goal of environmentally responsible economies. Like it or not we are all passengers on this one tiny planet. If we make a major environmental disaster of our world, there is no getting off. We'll have to ride it to the end and the end could include our species. Unfortunately, we all too often tend to ignore problems until it's pounding on our door. Maybe when we have to start wearing oxygen masks (tanks, masks, and pure water available at your local WalMart) we'll come to realize it might be too late to reverse the situation.
The question ask who IS responsible,not who SHOULD BE responsible. Consequently over 20 percent of us say NO ONE is responsible. It's a mess. Perhaps the question is too ambiguously worded for the answers to be interpretable. Who should be responsible? A very difficult question. Clearly a global perspective is needed, but there are no global enforcements available.
Individuals are responsible for making everyday choices to support an environmentally sound and socially just economy. It's morally reckless to pass off that responsibility to politicians and business.
I'm glad to see that people see the necessity for individual countries to be taking responsibility for their environmentally sound growth. The US can't shoulder the load for everyone else all the time!
If all those interested in the environment began to demand it not only of themselves, but of their family, friends, businesses, local and state governments, that effort would produce an enormous improvement much more rapidly than if we all adopted extreme environmentally sound practices.
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Only individuals have the knowledge to make decisions on matters such as energy consumption, which impact them directly. Basic economics and the law of supply and demand tells us that, when properly informed (as we are in this age of ubiquitous information) the market will select those options that are the most effective, environmentally friendly and relevant. No leader or government can plan an energy policy that actually caters to the dynamic demands of a growing world with growing needs for continued prosperity.
Posted by Richard Lorenc | June 24, 2008 11:44 AM