Most corporate interests are directly at odds with environmentalism. Almost all major corporations use an excessive amount of energy (which largely come from fossil fuels), and create an equally substantial amount of pollution. Because their goal is simply to maximize profit, and turning to more sustainable practices would raise production costs, they have little incentive to change their way. If we accept this, and that the options are to either impose regulations or…expect them to do the right thing? The answer seems clear. Corporations have historically been hellbent on defying environmental regulations when they do exist, such as the timber industry finding every loophole to encroach on federal property. In fact, the behavior of these corporations is usually the reason these regulations are enacted in the first place, such as the Clean Water Act, which was created when water pollution from industrial sources got out of hand. Additionally, environmental needs should almost always trump corporate interests. Environmental issues concern *everybody*; from pollution, to food insecurity, to natural disasters. People should not be involuntarily subject to these conditions just because a company wants to make $2 billion rather than $1 billion. Given that we cannot trust that these corporations will act in the best interest of the environment (as they have not so far), and that it is usually right that corporate interests be snuffed out in the face of a major environmental threat, the only option is to regulate.

One cannot deny that major corporations are responsible for a large portion of our planet's pollution, especially when it comes to carbon dioxide emissions. Every day, they pump out toxic mixtures, waste valuable energy, and create dangerous waste which goes on to damage ecosystems. Consumers are often blamed for supporting corporations. However, these same corporations often use greenwashing to slide past those who object to their actions against the environment. In the end, it's all about money. That's all it will ever be for them. Self-interest comes first. Allowing a corporation to regulate its own environmental policies is like asking a child to refrain from watching TV while you're out; it simply won't work. There are loopholes and tricks they use-and will continue to use-in order to falsely convince the public they are pitching in to help. That's why it's absolutely necessary for certain regulations to exist, so that this corporate devastation has real consequences.

The purpose of a corporation is to maximize its profit and to increase its sale. A lot of the time, environmental values are ignored due to these.