Human behavior is having some downright harmful consequences for the Planet Earth, as well as the many and diverse species, which make the Earth home. Human behaviors are causing climate change. Industrial growth has benefitted some amongst humankind, some much more than others. But for many, amongst humanity as well as other species and the very Earth itself, the consequences have been downright harmful and destructive.
Whatever happens with climate change, I think humanity will be capable of dealing with the consequences, and of adapting (i.e. survival).
However, that doesn't give us, as human beings, an excuse to go around polluting and causing death and destruction for the less adaptable, both amongst humanity as well as other species.
Think of the extinctions that industrial society has caused. It's unacceptable. I have a vision of humanity assuming the role of stewards of the Earth, human beings as protectors of all species and of bio-diversity.
What humanity is currently doing to the planet is unacceptable to me...
What would you have 'human kind' do in response to your idea of the global climate crisis? What measures would you enforce as the person who is responsible for developing a policy for all issues surrounding ecology?
ReplyDeleteGood questions, Chris. I will share a few ideas from off the top of my head.
ReplyDeleteThe simple answer is, this is a complex issue with very many factors and, I don't know.
The complex answer begins with this: I am not sure that a policy approach would be the most efficacious means of instituting change. It's possible that other means might be more in accord with achieving the kind of results that would result in a society that is truly life-sustaining and ecologically benign.
I am thinking of education; I am thinking of personal empowerment - so that individuals are knowledgeable and capable of making decisions and taking the sorts of actions that will be required.
That said, I also think that some policy measures will have to be included, in terms of cracking down on industrial pollution, and in terms of promoting, for example, transportation alternatives that will be necessary to achieve a truly sustainable society.
Some of the measures that I might institute would be policy that would facilitate the recovery of damages to ecology from industrial polluters, polluters like logging companies, plastics manufacturers, etc.
One of the problems today is that it's cheaper for industrial polluters to suffer penalties (fines) for polluting, rather than to change their business practices. So an additional factor might be to institute a three strikes rule.
Do you have any actual examples of companies whose practice it is to contaminate the environment and pay penalties rather than change its policy on that contamination?
ReplyDeleteWhat about sustainable energy like nuclear power? It is a clean safe and reliable source of power that our nation refuses to employ even as other nations use it to terrific effect.
What do you say to those who disagree with your beliefs that there must be draconian changes to education (indoctrination) of children policy on manufacturing and trade and domestic policy of absolute reductions of consumption?
C.