EAP 5 ASSIGNMENT COVER SHEET

Name: …………Ngo Thao Vy................. I.D. …23005696….........

Class: EAP5-1023PSO-1
Assignment: (please circle) Res. Report Lit. Review Res. Essay

Assignment Question: (write out in full)

Actions taken by governments and orginisations to protect the environment have
largely been unsuccessful
Critically evaluate this statement. In your answer you should refer to specific
examples of environmental problems.
Due date: 12/03/ 2024. Date submitted: 10/03/2024.

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RESEARCH ESSAY: ENVIRONMENT

Ngo Thao Vy

English for Academic Purposes

Mr.Chris Le & Mr. Anthony

Western Sydney University (WSU)

12/03/2024
Nowadays, it is becoming increasingly obvious that environmental issues, including global

warming and climate change, pose existential risks to the survival of humanity. 50% more

natural resources are being used by humans than the planet can provide, and there is a

rubbish island in our ocean that is primarily made of plastic (The World Counts 2014).

Over many decades, strategies addressing climate change have been given greater

emphasis by governments and organizations from all over the world. Understanding the

effectiveness of these actions on ecosystems is crucial, as it provides direction for future

pathways that are both cost-effective and sustainable. When analyzed, government and

organizational initiatives have, in fact, yielded significant benefits and advancements in

the protection of our environment. The purpose of this essay is to provide three

successful measures taken by governments and organizations to improve the quality of

the environment regarding meat consumption reduction, carbon credit mechanisms, and

the EPA’s market-based innovative technologies.

First and foremost, approaches to lowering meat consumption are seen as wise initiatives

against environmental and climatic change. In fact, one of the main causes of

deforestation around the globe is livestock farming, particularly beef production. Carbon

sinks and vital biodiversity have been lost as a result of widespread deforestation in

places like the Amazon rainforest, which is primarily caused by the development of

pastureland and the production of feed crops like soybeans for animal feed. Furthermore,

the cattle industry is a major contributor to climate change, with annual emissions

estimated to be 7.1 gigatonnes CO2-eq, or 14.5 percent of greenhouse gas emissions

caused by human activities (Gerber et al. 2013, p. 14). By reducing meat consumption,

governments and organizations can simultaneously improve public health outcomes

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while reducing the environmental impacts associated with livestock farming. Some people

may argue that individual eating habits have a minimal impact on overall environmental

protection compared to large-scale industrial activities like energy production. Although

individual dietary choices may not address all environmental issues, the cumulative

impact of cutting back on meat consumption may contribute significantly to resource

conservation and emissions reduction. For example, Cambridge’s Sustainable Food

Policy committed to limiting the environmental impact of catering through four main pillars:

removing ruminant meat from the menu, sourcing sustainable fish, reducing food waste,

and encouraging vegan and vegetarian dishes (Garnett & Balmford 2022). After 3 years

of implementing this policy, the University Catering Service reported a 33% drop in

greenhouse gas emissions, a 28% decrease in land usage, a 37% decline in meat

purchases, and an increase in gross profits of 2% per kilogram of food purchased. In brief,

reducing meat consumption is an essential part of successful environmental protection

plans.

Secondly, the value of carbon credits as a scheme used by governments and

organizations to safeguard the environment is demonstrated by their successful

deployment in numerous nations across the world. Carbon credits serve as a mechanism

for “incentivizing the industrial units which pollute less, and de-centivizing those that

pollute more” (Gurmit Singh 2009, p. 15). By encouraging companies to adopt greener

practices and technology, they may lessen their carbon footprint. For instance,

businesses may reduce their emissions and avoid buying more credits by implementing

energy-saving measures or investing in renewable energy sources. Additionally, nations

that sell carbon credits can allocate the money they get to promote environmental

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initiatives in their own communities. This guarantees that the benefits of carbon credit

schemes are reinvested back into environmental projects, resulting in more extensive and

effective environmental conservation campaigns at a grass-roots level. Critics who

disagree with this initiative point out that carbon credit mechanisms are vulnerable to

abuse and fraud, thereby reducing their ability to effectively lower emissions. For

instance, critics cite cases of "greenwashing," in which businesses buy credits to offset

their emissions without making significant adjustments to their business practices.

Actually, this is only partially true—these credits do have certain challenges. However,

such fraud and market manipulation issues can be addressed through improved

monitoring, transparency, and regulation. One example is the penalty system set up by

the Compliance Regulator of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Scheme (GGAS) in New

South Wales (NSW). This system aims at generators, retailers, and sellers of electricity

that fail to achieve the benchmark level, which is measured in tons of CO2 equivalent per

capita. As Perdan & Azapagic (2011) state, “Assessing abatement projects, accrediting

parties to undertake eligible projects and then create certificates, and monitoring

compliance with GGAS is the responsibility of the Scheme Administrator”. To sum up, the

carbon credit scheme is one of the most valuable tools aimed at mitigating climate change

in multiple countries.

Thirdly, encouraging market-based innovative technologies to solve environmental

challenges might be another successful initiative carried out by the US Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA) (Wyeth 2019, p.4). These efforts help the EPA fulfill its mission

of safeguarding the environment and public health by improving research quality through

partnerships with outside organizations, accelerating the commercialization of

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environmental technologies, and giving businesses financial incentives and opportunities

to develop viable environmental solutions (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office

of Research and Development 2011). For example, the automated treatment of greywater

has led to onsite non-potable reuse, benefiting both ecosystems and households. The

arguments against are strongly held. Market-based strategies are criticized because they

rely on voluntary participation, which they believe results in poor protection of the

environment and decrease in emissions. Additionally, they might suggest that stricter

regulatory frameworks are required to ensure compliance while bringing about major

change, as market mechanisms alone are insufficient to control companies with

significant environmental footprints. While this may be so, regulating oversight and

cooperative partnerships are integrated into the "market-based innovative tech projects"

effort to solve the constraints of market-based approaches, such as voluntary

involvement. The EPA guarantees that innovation is focused on attaining both economic

and environmental advantages for communities by annually announcing funding

opportunities for firms to develop and promote environmental innovations. Thus, even

though market-based strategies might encounter difficulties, they are still a key tool for

achieving sustainable development objectives and reducing environmental damage.

In conclusion, it can be seen that there are three successful measures implemented by

governments and organizations to enhance environmental quality. Although there are still

challenges in environmental conservation, investigating such approaches highlights the

possibility of proactive and creative ways to slow down environmental degradation.

Governments and corporations must keep utilizing these effective strategies in the future

while also looking for novel methods to improve the environment. We can all work

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together to create a more sustainable and healthy world for present and future

generations by embracing innovation, teamwork, and responsibility.

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 REFERENCE

Garnett, EE & Balmford, A 2022, ‘The vital role of organizations in protecting climate

and nature’, Nature Human Behaviour, vol. 6, pp. 319-321, viewed 15 January 2024,

Springer Nature database, DOI 10.1038/s41562-021-01260-z.

Gerber, PJ, Steinfeld, H, Henderson, B, Mottet, A, Opio, C, Dijkman, J et al. 2013,

Tackling climate change through livestock – A global assessment of emissions and

mitigation opportunities, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,

Rome, viewed 16 February 2024, <https://www.fao.org/3/i3437e/i3437e.pdf>.

Gurmit Singh 2009, Understanding carbon credits, 1st edn, Aditya Books, New Delhi,

viewed 21 February 2024,

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developments’, Energy Policy, vol. 39, no. 10, pp. 6040–6054.

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degradation-facts>.

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of Federal Research in Support of High-Growth Businesses U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency, 28 October, viewed 28 February 2024,

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<https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2017/05/09/EPA-Tech-Transfer-

Plan.pdf>.

Wyeth, G (ed.) 2019, ‘Modernizing Environmental Protection: A Brief History and

Lessons Learned’, Proceedings of the EPA and The Future of Environmental Policy

Conference, April 23-24, 2019, American University’s Center for Environmental Policy,

Washington DC, pp 1-8, viewed 15 January 2024,

<https://www.american.edu/spa/cep/future-directions/upload/moderizing-environmental-

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