Saving the World Outside the Box

Michael Maniates’ article, “Going Green? Easy Doesn’t Do It,” points out one of the critical flaws of the typical approach to environmental challenges. In looking at the problem, we assume that it will be impossible to make large changes to our economic and social systems, and so rather than trying, we try to work within the very systems that caused the problem in the first place.

It is our economy that drove us toward environmental degradation, since profits are valued above all else and the Earth’s resources are seen as free for the taking. Our society chose to value this higher than living in communities, sustainability, and the beauty of the planet on which we live, and did nothing to stop the spread of degradation.

To tell people that they can lessen their environmental impact through simple, everyday choices at the store is ludicrous. Environmental advocates who operate under this assumption seem to think that “less bad” is the same as good. A light bulb that is energy efficient is less bad than a traditional bulb, but it is still using energy. A new building that is LEED-certified is less bad than a typical building, but it still consumes resources, requires energy to light and heat, and disrupts ecosystems. Environmental consciousness requires that we think critically about whether we can light our homes with one fewer light bulb, get by with one fewer building, and other, similar choices. These choices do not go on our grocery lists; they drive at the heart of our mindset about what we should and should not do and what does and does not matter.

Ironically, the push for “green” products can even have a negative environmental impact. Examples of this include people who decide to throw away their Windex to buy Simple Green, buy a recycled fiber t shirt that they don’t actually need, or install a new, efficient dishwasher when their old one worked just fine. Producing these things requires resources, and updates should come from necessity, not to supplement life with unnecessary “eco friendly” products.

The focus on environmental steps that do not require much effort downplays how serious the environmental challenges really are. If the problem can be solved by taking shorter showers, it must not be such a big problem. However, the environmental challenge is enormous and complex, and requires an overhaul of our culture, economy, and thought process if it is going to be sufficiently addressed.

Confronting the environmental challenge is not going to be easy, but it is important to remember that the results will be worth it. Environmental consciousness can help us build a society with values that actually make us happy, unlike the current system that values profits and consumption, which do not increase our happiness and degrade the world around us. Perhaps, if we are willing to face the actual threats to our survival, we will emerge happier, more complete, and ready to take our civilization into the future.