Regulation

Government regulation has proven necessary to achieve many green goals. Although the prospect of corporate profit may encourage the development of biofuel and other [Page 383]alternative fuel sources, or the sales of hybrid cars, there are many areas in need of green policies and regulations where a profit motive does not exist. The benefits of preventing water, soil, and air pollution; of conserving water; of protecting biodiversity; and of preventing deforestation, are analogous to the gains of pure research compared to applied research. Although applied research—such as creating tape that has more adhesive power, or more energy-efficient refrigerators—leads to a direct benefit to the researcher's employer, the benefits of research into the human genome or the origins of the solar system are either intangible or ...