What is the Environment Worth to You? Conservation and Opportunity Costs

The depletion of energy, mineral, forest, land, wildlife, fishery, and water resources is a problem of increasing importance in a world striving for sustainable development. Sustainable development is the ability of the world's societies to develop and maintain a desirable standard of living without causing the world ecosystem to deteriorate. One of the primary ways to promote sustainable development is through conservation. As we have discussed throughout the textbook, many, if not all, problems facing the international community are ones that can be reduced in scope and potentially solved by the actions of individuals such as yourself. With this idea in mind, what would you change in your own personal consumption habits to conserve natural resources and help move your home country and the international community toward sustainable development?

1		Would you be willing to decrease your shower or bath time by half in order to prevent water shortages in your region?
			A)	Yes
			B)	No
			C)	Don't know
2		Would you be willing to use public transportation instead of your own car 5-6 days per week (if available where you live) in order to cut nitrogen oxide emissions that create acid rain?
			A)	Yes
			B)	No
			C)	Don't know
3		Would you be willing to decrease your electric usage by 20 percent in order to lessen sulfur dioxide emissions from the burning of high sulfur fuels in power plants? This could help to alleviate acid rain.
			A)	Yes
			B)	No
			C)	Don't know
4		Clear-cutting of rain forests is a source of revenue for some developing countries, yet results in the loss of many species of plants and animals, some of them already endangered. Would you support more foreign aid to countries with rain forests so that clear-cutting as an industry in those areas could be eliminated?
			A)	Yes
			B)	No
			C)	Don't know
5		Would you support the banning of balloons or the plastic rings that hold six-packs of cans together in order to save the lives of marine creatures that often die from ingesting balloons or getting tangled in the plastic rings?
			A)	Yes
			B)	No
			C)	Don't know
6		Would you support the use of nuclear energy in your hometown in order to conserve oil and gas?
			A)	Yes
			B)	No
			C)	Don't know
7		Would you support the shared use of a refrigerator in a dorm in order to eliminate the number of refrigerators that may expel chemicals (PCBs) during disposal that damage the ozone layer?
			A)	Yes
			B)	No
			C)	Don't know
8		Would you be willing to for go use of a microwave oven in order to conserve on energy?
			A)	Yes
			B)	No
			C)	Don't know
9		Would you be willing to live without air conditioning in your car and residence?
			A)	Yes
			B)	No
			C)	Don't know