Environmental Conservation: Attitudes and Eco-Philosophical Alignment

This essay presents a personal reflection on environmental conservation, exploring the author's attitudes and practices in relation to various eco-philosophies. The author discusses the evolution of their understanding of sustainability, influenced by environmental challenges like pollution and waste, particularly marine litter. The reflection incorporates experiences with online shopping and its environmental impact, emphasizing the importance of individual contributions to sustainability through actions like energy conservation and waste recycling. The essay also touches on global challenges like population growth and poverty, suggesting that economic growth in underdeveloped nations is preferable to wealth redistribution. The author concludes by advocating for the implementation of environmental ethics by governments, organizations, and individuals, promoting a collective effort towards a sustainable future. The essay references academic sources to support its arguments and reflections.

Environmental Conservation Should be of concern to us
Although I previously considered it from the perspective of natural resources and environment,
the term “Sustainability” is not actually new in my vocabulary lists. This is because most
people regard sustainable development as taking needs that just satisfy both the present
generation and the future generation. It is therefore evident that sustainability faces several
challenges that are related to the environment including pollution, climate changes and extinction
of the species (Batáry et al.2015). However, almost in all lessons and every term based
assignments, we have been requested to write on something which is related to the same topic of
sustainable environmental activities. During the process of reading other sources or searching, I
have known more about the concept of environmental, economic and social challenges to the
environment (Wunder 2013).
Apart from the challenges that I had known before, the environmental wastes have really drawn
my attention. As I was searching on the issue related to marine litter, it became very difficult for
me to classify the issue as pollution or as a waste. The expert on the issues of wastes and
sustainability practitioner Richard Goddard coincidentally told us the same news as I had
initially discovered on the ham related to wastes. This actually made me realize the interrelation
between the environmental challenges. One of the news that I was going through was one of the
recently published reports which talked about the plastic garbage accumulation in the ocean.
According to this particular report, it was estimated that the garbage of the plastics will outweigh
the fish population by the year 2050 if the present rate of pollution is anything to go by.
This is basically the contribution of human to the pollution of the marine environment through
plastic deposition. These wastes in the ocean were subsequently found to be responsible for

water pollution, the death of the marine lives, the death of birds, deterioration of the
environmental requirements and finally reduced vision in water bodies. I have also been
impressed by one of the environmental videos “Get A Bag” that was introduced by an individual
called Rachael. This video reminds me of the incidences that are related to our online shopping.
During those periods I used to be one of the greatest buyers of Taobao which is one of the
websites for shopping under the ownership of Alibaba. I had discovered that for every parcel,
there was always the presence of carton box, adhesive tape, bubble pack and a plastic
bag(Sullivan 2013).
This is what is commonly referred to as overpackage. This concept of over package had been
very common to me until I saw the news indicating accumulation of waste packages from the
express delivery companies in China in terms of million tones every day. The estimated value of
such packages was like over 1 billion RMB. Online shopping creates more than a plastic bag let
alone transportation pollution. The negative influence on the environment can impact a variety of
people for a long time. This implies that it is not only our generation that is affected but also the
coming generation (KC, Rijal and Sapkota 2015).
From what I can see, sustainability has become part of our daily lives and every person can do a
lot to make a contribution to a sustainable environment. This may include turning off and
unplugging appliances that are not in use. It is also our responsibility to use more energy
efficient devices and other materials that are environmentally friendly. This makes the issue of
environmental conservation concern to us. In their present set up, there are several programs on
the reusing and recycling of the household garbage.As far as I am concerned, rubbish sorting has
been very strict undertaking in most parts of the world and most countries have outlined the
requirement of every citizen towards this initiative(Ramaraju, Imae, and Destaye 2015).

In Canada, for example, families are supposed to classify their garbage lest they are fined for a
related mistake. In other places like New Zealand as I have always read from various sources, all
the families have ways of carrying out their garbage separation. It is after this programs of
separation that disposal can be done. It is however evident that most of them are not aware of
what kind of the wastes can be undertaken through the recycling process(Thomsen and
Willerslev 2015). I think it is important for at least every family to be informed on the detailed
classification procedures and those who think or act otherwise be punished severely. In this way,
wastes in such countries will be properly dealt with.
In addition, I discovered that the sustainability of the world must cope with population growth,
development, poverty and technology in the aspect of economy and society on a global basis.
Other scholars have proposed that these challenges can be effectively solved by equitable
distribution. This kind of distribution will involve taking of something from regions that are rich
to those that are perceived to be poor so as to set a balance in the standards of living between the
poor and the rich(Sexton and Sexton 2014). In my own view, the implementation of such
programs is likely to fail. This is because it will discourage poor states from working hard so as
to be developed. In my own opinion, it would be more reasonable for the underdeveloped nations
to accelerate their economic growth and development rather than getting donations from the
developed nations. However as the economic growth consumes energy and resources and destroy
the environment, very serious questions are raised in regard to the sustainability and this is of
concern to me as an environmentally sensitive character(Clayton, Litchfield and Geller 2013).
Sustainability can be related to many things, not only society and environment but also a
business. From my view, sustainability in business can effectively consider the interest of both
economic and environmental subject. It is possible for most businesses to minimize their

negative impacts on the society and environment. The best example is the overfishing which has
resulted in the negative impacts on the biodiversity, climate change, and ocean ecosystem. These
are not only environmental challenges but also concerns of economics that threaten the future of
tourism and fishing industry. When analyzing the game of Fishbanks, I am able to see the
possibilities of creating a commercial fishing business that does not result in the depletion of the
stock. However, there are just inherent in the management of finite resources sustainably.
In conclusion, all individuals, organizations, and governments should make their own personal
and effective contribution towards environmental sustainability which will later make the world
a better place to live in. In the implementation of environmental ethics, it is assumed that the
government is the main force. This is because it is the maker of the policies and laws which offer
guidance to individuals and organizations on the mechanisms of environmental conservation.
The value of suitability in the environment can be promoted by the government through media
channels. Organizations should also assume their responsibilities in dealing with the pollutants in
a way which considers the development and use of renewable energy sources.
As for the individuals, our contribution should begin from the minor issues in our daily lives
including reducing the consumption of electricity and water, choosing of environmentally
friendly and energy saving products, refusing non-biodegradable products and using recycled
materials. Although various individuals have different views in regard to the environmental
conservation and sustainability, I think it has been becoming popular and very soon it will spread
its root to all parts of the world considering that almost everyone is a beneficiary of the
sustainability concept in the environment. If anything, who does not like a clean environment?

References
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