第10期 · 气候问题靠政府还是靠个人

The question of who bears responsibility for addressing climate change — individuals or governments — has generated considerable debate. While I agree that government action is indispensable, I would argue that dismissing the role of individual effort is both misguided and counterproductive. There is no question that climate change requires coordinated intervention at the governmental level. The scale of the challenge — transitioning entire economies away from fossil fuels, restructuring energy grids, and meeting international emissions targets — far exceeds what any individual can accomplish. Only governments possess the legislative authority to impose carbon taxes, mandate renewable energy standards, and negotiate binding international agreements such as the Paris Accord. Furthermore, systemic problems demand systemic solutions: when approximately one hundred corporations are responsible for the majority of global emissions, asking individuals to recycle more and drive less is akin to rearranging deck chairs on a sinking ship. Nevertheless, individual action remains a critical catalyst for broader change. Consumer choices send powerful market signals — the surge in demand for electric vehicles and plant-based diets has compelled entire industries to pivot toward sustainability, a shift that no government mandate alone could have achieved. Moreover, individual engagement drives political will: politicians rarely implement ambitious climate policies unless voters demand them. The global climate strikes inspired by young activists demonstrate how individual voices can catalyse international momentum. Dismissing personal responsibility also risks fostering a sense of helplessness, which is itself a barrier to meaningful action. In conclusion, addressing climate change is not a question of government versus individual action, but rather of how the two reinforce each other. Government policy provides the structural framework, while individual choices create the cultural and economic conditions that make ambitious policy possible. Both are not merely complementary — they are inseparable.