“It is unrealistic to
expect individual nations to make, independently, the sacrifices necessary to
conserve
energy.
International leadership and worldwide cooperation are
essential if we expect to protect the world’s energy
resources for future
generations.”I have mixed opinion with
the given topic as energy
conservation can actually be done if the efforts are
taken on international level . Every nation over this planet is equally
responsible for protection of energy resources . However, The scope of the
argument does not specify which types of energy resources require conservation.
The statement argues that
international leadership is necessary to conserve energy for the future. The
passage makes the reasonable assumption that individual nations will not
unilaterally cut their energy usage, and that international cooperation is
necessary to conserve resources. However, the sub text of the argument, that
resources are diminishing and that international regulation is the
only way to protect
Resource availability may not be valid. This calls into
question the legitimacy of the statement.It is reasonable to expect
that many individual nations will act in a rational (self-interested) manner.
Some nations, such as the U.S and the E.U. may cooperate to reduce resource
depletion, but rogue nations such as the P.R.C. and North Korea will likely not
comply with cuts on a volunteer basis. Thus, an international organization would
indeed be necessary to apply sanctions and compel compliance. In this respect, I
agree with the argument.
However, the argument is
too vague and fails to define (1) what resources are approaching depletion and
(2) if regulation restricting usage is the most effective means of conservation.
Oil reserves, for example, have been increasing, not decreasing, over time
because of improved technology used in drilling has allowed greater access. In
addition, if technology can improve access to resources, provide
access to renewable resources (such as solar power), and improve conservation
(energy efficiency), then regulations that could impede technological
advancement could exacerbate the situation. Thus, an international regulatory
regime may not be effective at maintaining adequate resource
supplies.
In sum, it is likely true
that an international regulatory regime would be required to regulate global
resource consumption. However, it is unclear that such a regime would be
necessary or effective to maintain adequate resource supplies
globally.
Hence , I have mixed
opinion over the given topic that it is unrealistic to expect
individual nations to make, independently, the sacrifices necessary to conserve
energy. International leadership and worldwide cooperation are essential if we
expect to protect the world’s energy resources for future
generations
More summaries about the Energy Sources and International Effort