The role of government in an economy

Describe how government can influence

businesses to protect the environment.

 Policies on green technology

The term ‘technology’ means using knowledge for

practical purposes. Green technology therefore refers
to the use of knowledge for the development of
products and processes that support the environment.

An example of green technologies serving business and

the community is the Closed Looped Cycle Production
in the Americas (CLCPA) programme,
currently running in Trinidad & Tobago. The most
common type of material disposed of in landfill sites
by residential and industrial sectors in Trinidad &
Tobago is Styrofoam. The government of Trinidad &
Tobago therefore launched an initiative in 2013 to
find a sustainable packaging to replace the Styrofoam
containers produced by the country’s packaging
industry. The intended outcome of this programme is
to produce local biodegradable and compostable
food packaging.
 Proper disposal of waste

What is waste?
Waste is often called rubbish, garbage or junk. It is
anything that we no longer want or need and that we
end up throwing away. Almost everything we do creates
waste, whether we are at home, at work, at school or
just out and about.
It is the government’s duty to make sure that waste is
treated and managed so that it can be reused, recycled
and disposed of in a safe way.

The government can influence businesses to protect the

environment by granting licenses to companies like the
Solid Waste Management Company to mange waste in a
safe, environmentally friendly and cost-effective way.
Secondly, the government can impose heavy fines to
firms that go against waste management rules, such
as dumping waste into the sea.

For example, in Trinidad & Tobago, the Solid Waste

Management Company manages landfill sites for the
disposal of business and household waste. It uses
modern technology such as giant shredding machines
that can shred wood, construction materials and
household waste, so that waste is compacted down to
small size.
https://youtu.be/1ipaL8jCNoc

 Reforestation

Reforestation can be defined as the process of

replanting trees in areas that have been affected by
natural disturbances like wildfires, drought, insect
and disease infestation as well as unnatural ones like
logging, mining, agricultural clearing and
development.
The government can influence businesses to protect the
environment through reforestation. They may go
about this by encouraging businesses to implement
more tree planting projects/tree planting campaigns
by including the public.
Furthermore, the planting of trees are beneficial to the
environment because it prevent soil erosion, it purifies
the air and it helps with the recovery of natural habitats.

https://youtu.be/RYZrp6Mqw2E

 Zoning Laws

What are zoning laws?

Zoning laws in simple terms can be defined as the

legislations/laws passed by a government that regulates
how land within the country/state can be used. Zoning
promotes health, safety, prosperity, orderly development
and the overall welfare of the community.
One of the main purpose of zoning is to prevent new
development from interfering with existing residents
or businesses and to preserve the ‘character’ of a
community.

Zoning and Government Regulations - YouTube