If we decide that my arguments are convincing (more accurately, the better and more persuasive arguments of smarter scientists and politicians than I will ever be!) then we have to face the next question.
How can we effect the necessary changes? How can we make them as painless and cost-free as possible?
It seems to me that there is a definite distinction between the actions of corporations and the actions of individuals. Of course, this hubris could just reflect the fact that I am not a corporation, I am a stubborn individual, who sees the little that I put into the cesspool as insignificant compared to the looting and polluting of big business.
But that is the tragedy of the commons: we all foul our common space, in small amounts, and drown in trash. How can we encourage individuals to be more environmentally friendly?
What can we use as a carrot, and do we also need a stick?
The stick is easy: let's increase the price of energy: it seems high here in the US right now, since we've recently had significant increases in oil prices --- however, the only effect of this seems to be bigger profits for the oil companies. How much better to raise prices a bit and have the taxes used to fund the carrots? The carrots? Tax breaks for individuals who put solar panels on their roof or insulation in their attic. Legislation encouraging power companies to buy surplus solar power from individuals.
On the corporate end, unfortunately, in the US the prospects are bleak. Corporations own the government, paying for their election and re-election. Look at the farm subsidies, huge proportions of which go to the mega corporations. Legislation is written specifically to protect the biggest donors. Ethanol is encouraged, despite being largely a sop to corn country: inefficient to grow, environmentally unfriendly in its own right. I wish I could see a way forward, but I can't, not while the current system of electoral purchase prevails.
And so it is doubly incumbent on us as citizens to do more as individuals and to persuade our elected officials to put incentives for individuals in place, to make up for the fact that we are not going to get corporate restrictions passed.
Yours, depressed,
N.
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1 comment:
Another interesting post. Put in that light, it sounds like an Everest to climb.
Over here there are grants available (limited, of course, to first come first served) for things like insulation and other improvements. Unfortunately many people don't seem to understand why making their homes ecofriendly would benefit. The carrot, I think, would be to say that (in the long term) these improvements would save them money.
I once worked for a supermarket and, on asking about the cardboard recycling, I was told that if it wasn't for the fact that they got money for it, they wouldn't bother.
In today's world, it seems that everyone wants to make it worth their while.
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