Introducing policies is an effective way to change people’s habits. If I could add some policy to help the environment, I would introduce an additional tariff on plastic bags. This tariff would target big corporations and companies to stop them from their usage of single-use plastic bags in stores for consumers to take home after shopping. Currently, European countries like Germany or Sweden tax consumers for plastic bags. While it is effective at reducing plastic waste, it hurts poor people who can’t afford to pay the tax on single-use plastic bags and customers who forget to bring their reusable bags. If the government taxed corporations instead, then there is a chance that corporations would stop to stop producing single-use plastic bags, and force customers to bring their reusable bags when going shopping.

In addition, I believe we should have environmental education mandated for every public school in the country. The US has a DARE program, in which students learn about not using drugs. In the same way, people should learn from a young age how to grow sustainable habits and reduce their environmental footprint. Starting for a young age, we can teach our future to have sustainable habits.

https://ec.europa.eu/environment/efe/themes/waste/breaking-bag-habits_en

https://dare.org/