Politicians are more responsible for the protection of the environment than individuals. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Politicians are more responsible for the protection of the environment than individuals. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

A faction of society propounds that lawmakers should don the mantle of safeguarding the ecology, while others vehemently disregard burdening them, and assert this onus should be on everyone. This essay shall critically examine both perspectives and draw a justified conclusion.

There is a growing opinion that public representatives hold the panacea for a plethora of environmental issues as they are responsible for governing regulatory bodies and authorities, and hold the power of creating and amending rules and laws, related to address this pressing concern. Changes in rules is seen as a collective measure seeking the end of environment-related infringements, since everyone will follow it without reluctance by virtue of fearing repercussions, in the form of penalties and  imprisonment. 

Additionally, policymakers can allocate resources and invest in infrastructure that bolsters sustainability: funding public road transport, developing waste disposal and recycling facilities, and encouraging green technologies. These initiatives pave a path for citizens engendering eco-friendly initiatives and reducing adverse impacts down the line. Since the inception of BEST, Mumbai public bus service; 40% of traffic congestion and 20% of Mumbai pollution has been mitigated; saving one billion tonnes of CO2 emissions alone in this city, according to a study conducted by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

On the contrary, individuals also have a role to play in ecological protection: daily habits such as minimizing  plastic use, conserving energy, recycling, and sustainable sourcing can considerably alleviate emissions and collectively contribute to this noble cause. It can go a long way in resolving the environmental imbroglio since they are the source of all this evil.

Overall, although individuals contribute to the daunting task of safeguarding the planet  through their routine actions, the state is more responsible because they have the power to implement large-scale policies and instill lasting change.