Environmental Degradation: Policy Failure or Change in Behavior?

Environmental Degradation: Policy Failure or Change in Behavior?

Environmental Degradation – Policy Failure or Behavior Changes?
Recent environmental degradation is caused by changes in behavior and not by failure
in policy. Global unions and organisations [UNEP, UN, Radar convention, and global
summits] make constant effort to review existing policies that surround the management and
conservation of the environment. However, people are reluctant to change activities that
directly relate to the physical environment. This analysis argues that recent degradation is
caused by radical behavioral changes and not by policy failure. Where possible, the research
analysis will rely on published sources and scholarly articles to offer an exhaustive coverage
on the topic.
Analysis of Human Behavior
Circulation of Plastic Bags
The circulation of single-used plastic bags is a problem that stems from inappropriate
behavior and conduct. An article by the Los Angeles County reveals that every year, a total of
500 billion bags are used (Jacobsen, 2010). Above statistics point that every woman, child,
and man uses a total of 83 bags every year. And in those 500 billion plastic bags, 100 are
used in United States alone – this means that U.S constitutes a fifth of the total plastic bag
usage globally. Scholarly sources continue to point that plastic bags are costly and difficult to
recycle and as such, they end up in landfill sites where they take 300 years to completely
degrade (Jacobsen, 2010). The pollution problem from plastic bags is that they are broken
down into tiny particles. Minute plastic compounds find way in soil structures and water
ways where living things both plants and animals consume them. Plastic compounds are
eventually introduced into the food chain posing as a health hazard to humans. Pollution from
plastic bags is caused by irresponsible behavior which is manifested in various forms;
ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS 4
sandwich bags, advertising logos, plastic carrier bags, bin liners among others. Above
prevalence is contributed partly by the lightweight nature of the bags, cheap packaging costs,
and accessibility.
The use of plastic mostly comes from inconsiderate behavior by humans and not due
to lack of clear laws and legislations. In United States for example, shopping centers, local
stores, and consumer enterprises are barred from using plastic as their packaging material
(Jacobsen, 2010). How then do plastic fin

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