Learning and Environmental Choices |
Thursday Nov 26 2009
I
continue to be struck by the environmental challenges facing planet
earth. With signs of increasing public awareness about the deepening
climate crisis, it is gratifying to sense a noticeable shift taking
place in my own and others’ behaviour. For instance, I see more and
more people supporting recycling programs, choosing Energy Star
appliances, and driving fuel efficient cars. And we change our light
bulbs! Yet is it enough?
At best, such actions represent
well-intentioned but relatively modest gestures when viewed in relation
to the major sources of carbon dioxide that humans influence.
Compounding the situation are the conflicting messages, increased costs
and lack of feedback on the contribution of such initiatives. Still,
these individual decisions to address global warming are essential
demonstrations of the commitment to do whatever can be done to make a
difference. Even if it is not enough, it is something. But what else
might we do?
To help sort out what I might do, I have been
reflecting on the dynamics underlying the choices that we make in
deciding to act or not act when confronted by such big messy
challenges. It seems that, for the most part, we rely on our experience
as the source of our understanding and, in turn, our decisions. Thus,
the educational efforts of environmental leaders do make a difference.
For example, “An Inconvenient Truth”, the Oscar-winning documentary by
Al Gore, and public service announcements featuring authorities like
David Suzuki have helped shift our awareness about the seriousness and
urgency of the situation we face.
Another facet of how
learning is shaping our behaviour can be seen in the school curriculum.
Thankfully, children today study environmental matters and receive much
more accurate and up-to-date information than did many of their parents
or grandparents. Over a decade or two, this knowledge will hopefully
alter the baseline understanding of necessary and beneficial
environmental choices.
While we as individuals may argue that we
did not consciously choose to pollute our water, create acid rain,
deplete our agricultural land, clearcut our rain forests, wreck the
ozone layer or cause global warming and likewise, individual actions
alone will note resolve the problems. Rather, the challenge today is
mobilizing urgent action at the corporate, national and international
levels—before the mean global temperature reaches a point that triggers
unstoppable warming or other catastrophic consequences. Failure to do
this soon will cause untold problems such rising sea levels, massive
migration, extreme weather, desertification, widespread famine,
accelerated species extinction.... and ultimately put at risk the
future of life on earth.
More tomorrow....
Written by eldering at Wisdom in Action
Tagged with: al_gore an_inconvenient_truth carbon_dioxide david_suzuki environment learning
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