Rationalizations
What do climate researchers do in their own lives to reduce their carbon footprint? The Rocky Mountain News talks to five scientists in Boulder, CO -- climate research hotbed (no pun intended) -- to find out. The article ("Think globally, act locally") is an interesting look at how even the smartest and most knowledgeable among us struggle with the problem of what to do in the face of so overwhelming a problem.
To sum up, four out of five scientists interviewed do make efforts to minimize their emissions - everything from ditching the dryer for the clothesline to converting their VW to an electric vehicle. The fifth, whose job it is to oversee "a global network of observatories where greenhouse gases are measured," drives a Ford 5-150 that gets a whopping 8-mpg. He'll allow he feels a "twinge of guilt" when he turns the key but says, "When you look at the big picture, these individual actions are doing practically nothing. ... It's like peeing in the ocean. It makes you feel good, but it doesn't affect the ocean at all."
I once knew a political science professor who didn't vote based on pretty much the same rationale; what was one man's vote stacked up against all that money and influence in politics? I understood his attitude and I adopted it myself for a while. Eventually, I came to think it was lame.
How about you? What do you think?
To sum up, four out of five scientists interviewed do make efforts to minimize their emissions - everything from ditching the dryer for the clothesline to converting their VW to an electric vehicle. The fifth, whose job it is to oversee "a global network of observatories where greenhouse gases are measured," drives a Ford 5-150 that gets a whopping 8-mpg. He'll allow he feels a "twinge of guilt" when he turns the key but says, "When you look at the big picture, these individual actions are doing practically nothing. ... It's like peeing in the ocean. It makes you feel good, but it doesn't affect the ocean at all."
I once knew a political science professor who didn't vote based on pretty much the same rationale; what was one man's vote stacked up against all that money and influence in politics? I understood his attitude and I adopted it myself for a while. Eventually, I came to think it was lame.
How about you? What do you think?
8 Comments:
what if every person in the US peed in the ocean at one time, would that then effect the ocean?
It's kinda lame, but his point about coal plants in China is hard to argue against. So, what can we do to stop that?
I find it strange that we are worrying about coal plants in China when the US tops everyone in greenhouse gas emissions. It seems to me there's some value in taking personal responsibility for problems, even if each of us is a small part of it.
I've always liked this quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Crack-up.
"The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function. One should, for example, be able to see that things are hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise."
So, you could recognize, for example, that every new coal plant in China outstripped individual efforts at reducing carbon emissions and yet still do everything within your power.
I've always thought that what Fitzgerald was getting at was less about intelligence and more about moral character. Some folks see the quote as cynical or pessimistic (things are hopeless). But not me.
Anyone else?
there is nothing to be gained from saying it's hopeless. you have to tell yourself it isn't even if it is.
I agree with the person who said there's value in taking personal responsibility. For one thing, it gives you some moral authority to expect the same of others and to expect government action. Also, it serves as an example to others. The reverse is also true. The professor you mentioned was a poor example, which you then followed. How many other students did the same?
When folks in the U.S. pee, and eliminate those other wastes, in cities near the ocean (and their outdated sewage treatment plants and storm drains don't quite do their jobs), then they actually have quite an effect on the ocean. For instance, see this article on beach closures in Hawaii: http://starbulletin.com/2005/07/29/news/story6.html.
As to the foolish idea that individual action doesn't change anything, well, that's just totally illogical. Our current carbon crisis is the result of the cumulative effect of centuries of individual actions. The vast majority of those actions happened before people knew what the heck anthropogenic global warming was and what it could do. But that doesn't change the fact that individual choices, preferences, business decisions, etc. have caused the changes we see already.
The difference is that now, at least some of us, know what we're bringing about, and every time we choose to do the wrong thing, we steal a bit more from our children, our future and those around us.
And you can tell yourself that everybody steals, or that your theft is just a drop in the bucket compared to corporate theft and so on, but that argument doesn't really fly for me.
wouldn't be surprised to learn that most political science professors don't bother to vote. i wonder whether a survey has ever been done.
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