"But it does occur to me that the discussion of global warming is simultaneously overblown and under-serious. Let's face it: If we really, truly believed that New York City was going to be under water in less than 50 years, we would move heaven and earth to prevent that from happening. But we don't, so we don't."
Cait Murphy thinks that discussion of global warming is overblown? She points out the real problem with the global warming debate and doesn't even realize it! People really don't take it seriously. I can drive 10 minutes from my house to the beach and the shoreline will look exactly like it did yesterday. "And they say the oceans are rising...pshhh" is what many would think. This is an unfortunate consequence of the gradual manifestation of the effects of global warming. We don't see penguins lying dead in our streets or New York being consumed by the Atlantic Ocean, so it is easy for us to casually ignore the warnings. We may not believe that New York city will be underwater in less than 50 years, even though we maybe should. Then we should ask "why don't we believe that" and from there we ask "what steps should we take to inform people of the real gravity of the situation". If we wait until the real effects of global warming are knocking on our front door, it might be to late to stop it.
Showing posts with label Global Warming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Global Warming. Show all posts
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Affecting Global Warming
Stephen Dubner wrote today about the "degree to which behavioral changes are produced on three separate levels". These levels being the individual level, the government level, and the corporate level. Dubner downplays the influence the individual level plays in changing global warming:
"The individual level — where change seems well underway, but probably won’t amount to all that much without major institutional/structural changes."
I agree completely that without major institutional or structural changes, individuals won't affect any long lasting change in the global climate, but this is just as true for the other two levels. Without major structural changes with complicity from all three levels, there will be no sustainable movement towards lowering greenhouse emissions or curbing global warming.
Institutional and structural changes usually arise from the collective actions of individuals, not the governments or corporations who have vested interests in the current systemic structure, or else that structure wouldn't exist in the first place. It is the role of individual consumers to bring about social change, and I see that occurring as individuals become more environmentally and socially conscious. Unfortunately, this is a slow process, and the idea of global warming is still relatively new. Any alteration of consumption patters takes time to become widely accepted.
Individual change and institutional/social change go hand in hand. Do not underestimate the power of the common man to have a considerable affect on global warming. It was the collective actions of individuals who caused this mess, and it is surely within the power of individuals to fix it.
"The individual level — where change seems well underway, but probably won’t amount to all that much without major institutional/structural changes."
I agree completely that without major institutional or structural changes, individuals won't affect any long lasting change in the global climate, but this is just as true for the other two levels. Without major structural changes with complicity from all three levels, there will be no sustainable movement towards lowering greenhouse emissions or curbing global warming.
Institutional and structural changes usually arise from the collective actions of individuals, not the governments or corporations who have vested interests in the current systemic structure, or else that structure wouldn't exist in the first place. It is the role of individual consumers to bring about social change, and I see that occurring as individuals become more environmentally and socially conscious. Unfortunately, this is a slow process, and the idea of global warming is still relatively new. Any alteration of consumption patters takes time to become widely accepted.
Individual change and institutional/social change go hand in hand. Do not underestimate the power of the common man to have a considerable affect on global warming. It was the collective actions of individuals who caused this mess, and it is surely within the power of individuals to fix it.
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