The topic of environmentalism doesn't come up to frequently but when it does it causes quite a stir as to who is to pick up the tab. Our interaction with this earth occurs simultaneously. With every breath we take. Currently we pollute the air and waterways in means of economic growth "Some environmental resources–such as timber, fish and minerals–are bought and sold in the market. But their price usually does not reflect the true cost of obtaining them because it does not include the cost of the environmental damage" (Beder). As the bill for environmentalism comes to the table everyone fights on who picks up the tab;it is a struggle between government and big business to lower our global carbon output. With government having supreme power over industry they have placed the task in their hands. Although business says it can be pricy many say that they can find themselves with carbon trading programs that can be bought and sold similar to the current stock market, waste collection projects that collect waste for recycling and resale, and preventative measures business can take to reduce their carbon emission.
The fight between the environment and big business has been raging since Roosevelt's presidency in the 1900's. He created the National Park system in response to massive deforestation in the west coast. Even in today's administration the government has seem to have taken the side of Mother Nature "That's why I directed my administration to work with states, utilities, and others to set new standards on the amount of carbon pollution our power plants are allowed to dump into the air. The shift to a cleaner energy economy won't happen overnight, and it will require tough choices along the way. But the debate is settled." (Obama). On the other side of the coin big business says that they shouldn't be the ones being taxed and required to pay the expenses that come along with reducing carbon emissions.