The Responsibility of the United States

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses how, as the largest consumer group in the world, Americans have directly caused many of the environmental problems that exist today and the ones that will sprout up in the future, if current consumption trends continue. The paper portrays how economic growth in the Unites States is pursued rashly and at the expense of social and environmental consequences. The paper describes Speth's suggestions, including environmentally honest pricing. The paper explains that altering the underlying pricing systems would alter the entire supply and demand structure in favor of more restrained and educated consumer choices. The paper contends that the United States should spearhead the new policy initiative and they can model their proposal after those already in place in Northern Europe.

From the Paper:

"Emissions regulations and standards; taxing non-sustainable raw materials or finished products; outlawing certain chemicals; funding research and development of sustainable products and technologies; and offering incentives to promote sustainable products are some potential focal points for policy-makers. On page 161 of Red Sky at Morning, Speth also refers to the importance of mandating "environmentally honest prices." Each of these suggestions might make a difference in the overall impact of economic growth on the environment."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Speth, James Gustave. Red Sky at Morning: America and the Crisis of the Global Environment. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2004.

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