Question

Environmental Ethics question.

You are head of the World Maritime Commission’s Department of Ecology. You are considering the case against one of the premier luxury cruise ship companies in the world, ABC Cruise Lines. The complaint is that ABC is in gross violation of the commission’s waste disposal regulations and has egregiously polluted Prince William Sound in Alaska for the past twenty years. The company has admitted lax management but denies any systematic plan for pollution. However, the facts show that ABC has polluted four times as much as the next worst offender, which also faces charges. A tentative fine of $100 million has been assessed against ABC, which ABC says it cannot possibly pay, because it will lead to bankruptcy. If the cruise line goes bankrupt, 12 000 people will lose their jobs. ABC proposes that it be allowed to continue and that 5 percent of its net profits be diverted to an environmental fund for the next ten years. Critics say that this is merely a “slap on the wrist” that will do nothing to address the real problems.

Environmental pollution is not a small matter. However, there is the issue of those who will be put out of work.

a. What is the free market environmentalist solution?

b. What is the environmental economist solutions?

c. Argue for which position is the best and why. If neither, explain why. Write a recommendation for the other committee members to consider.

Answer 1

Ans.a. As per the free market environmentalist solution, the company has to do the following things:

• First of all, the Company has to fix the pollution of Prince William Sound in Alaska
• Second, the company has to pay to fix the pollution and it does not matter how much money the company has to pay and if they are not able to pay then they should stop their company.
• Most importantly, the company should also employ its employees for this work.

Ans.b. As per environmental economist solutions, the company has to do the following things:

• The amount of waste deposited by the company should be paid by its daily income.
• The company needs to pay until the region of Alsaka seems to be clean that has been polluted by the ship and many more.

Ans.c. In my opinion, the free market environmentalist solution is good one because it looks in both the company as well as the environment and makes a true balance with nature.