▶ Your Answer :
It is often argued that people will participate in energy conservation if the price of gasoline and electricity increases. Even though the jury is still out, I strongly believe that the raising price is the only policy for saving energy that the government can enforce. The rationale behind this is that both a mass and an individual react sensitively at the change of price. Moreover, the government role is restrictive that other policies for decreasing use of energy can’t ensure the effect and cost.
First, when the price of gasoline and electricity increases, large enterprises and individuals will try hard to conserve energy as they can because both company and person are alert to their own profits. As gasoline and electricity costs become expensive, company’s and person’s income will dwindle. People recognize the above fact that they struggle to maintain their regular income. For example, Samsung, creating a great amount of profits directly participated in energy conserving campaign, when the government warned that progressive taxes would be added by the amount of energy used.
Additionally, the government role is limited that other policies don’t have certainty in their effect. We frequently read the article or see the campaign related to curtail usage of energy but no one have a confidence about effect of those ways because it’s hard to prove the cause and effects. Even the practical policies such as developing environment-friendly energy are threatened by their cost and usefulness. For instance, in 1990s, the solar energy had been promising that it would help energy conservation. However, the government couldn’t enforce to use the solar energy and also, Korean Energy Research Center failed to prove its effectiveness compared to the cost of building and maintenance.
In conclusion, I wholeheartedly believe that imposing high price on electricity and gasoline is the most useful way for the government to conserve energy.
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