Is the environment getting greener?

Question

It seems like us Americans are doing a bit better about the envirnoment, like starting to use our own bags (for example the law passed in San Francisco about how they will not give you paper or plastic bags- only canvas- in supermarkets?) in the grocery store?

Also there are a lot more warnings about being more environmentally friendly, and a lot of people have responded.

What can you tell me about this? Thanks!

Answer 1

I believe it is getting just a smudge greener, but we still have a LOT to go; considering the fact that the united states contributes the most pollution. I have to admit, people are trying. i saw on t.v that is some clubs, they're actually building something underneath the dance floors. when people dance and stuff, the floor will pick up the vibrations and then converts it to electricity!. so, yeah. i guess we are getting a little bit more greener. :D  

Answer 2

definetly, people have starting using their own canvas bags and going to local farmers markets to help cut down on the amount of gas used to ship the items. also a lot of more grocery stores i have noticed even have there own buy local, buy organic sections. also a lot of products have been being made out of reusable materials. ex. i saw purses made out of old bill boards and notebooks and folders being made with recycled paper. and ethenol and hybrids are catching on too, especially now that gas is at a all time high. in additon to, people are using energy efficiant appliances and lightbulbs to cut back on energy consumption. and finally i believe a lot of more americans are more interested because of the up-coming election. hope this helped!

Answer 3

I optimistically think we're headed in the right direction. Pessimistically I'm concerned that we're just exporting our pollution and making it someone else's problem (China, India) since we're still the end-consumer.

I also think that in the past a lot of our environmental issues like air pollution were highly concentrated in cities. The cities have gotten better, but with urban sprawl the problem areas have gotten larger.

JMO.  

Answer 4

From what I've read many people believe America is at a "tipping point" when it comes to the environment. That means that our impact on the earth is becoming a mainstrem topic. As people become aware of what we are doing they will want to do their part to reduce our impact. Unfortunatly our nation is a consumer driven economy and the marketing of going green is turning many people away from the real solutions.

I've heard many people say going green is too expensive. President Bush said it will ruin the economy. Yet Europe is years ahead of us in renewable energy and they have always created less waste and required less energy.

I'm hoping that we are at a point where real change will happen.  

Answer 5

Actually, the US is no longer the #1 polluter in the world, that is China, and the US is rapidly dropping. We may very well be passed by countries like India rather soon.

The world is getting greener. However, much of the effort put forward by the West and other Western Style nations (Japan, Australia etc) is being offset by the rapid expansion and environmental disregard of up and coming industrial nations like China and India. Still, we are generally getting a little greener.