The first word that comes to my mind thinking about this topic is a compromise. Humans have quite well developed ability to search for solutions and compromises in probably all possible agendas of life. However, many could argue that at many edgy situations compromises are simply not working and assured actions are necessary. Isn’t a climate change topic the one?
I honestly believe that sustainable being and climate change simply cannot afford compromises anymore. Nevertheless, let’s try to give some more air for transitional solutions as the real situation is still far away from the one, benefiting humans and all nature for sustainably long period of time into the future. We can draw many red lines in advocating for the climate change. However, we need to evaluate a situation critically all the time and admit that still much need to be done and even with all future implementations it might be too late. On the other hand, even little steps and any compromises are helpful in this relatively bad situation.
During a COVID pandemic period, I have noticed among other people and on myself two noticeable behavioral ways: what is attracting an attention and what is enforcing emotional reactions. First one, an overwhelmed habit or let us call it a psychic dependency of looking into others and eventually copying the most admired ones unconsciously. Second one, a rebellious attitude to any kind of possible emotional or thysical restriction mode. Also worth to mention, that during a COVID crysis period, a pragmatic thinking gained some more ground in the space of a personal security and a financial continuity sence.
I believe it’s quite useful to tackle above mentioned observations in the context of sustainability and climate change. As it might give some fresh ideas how the nature and we could benefit from humans partly unstoppable activities, if they could be viewed from a slightly different angle.
With our acknowledgment or without it, most of us are adopting to the society by following others on complete fundamental level. Including acceptance of behavioral rules, selecting the path of life, choosing things and services that someone already chose and attracted our attention. By now, meaning until these days in the present, we could find many examples how famous people and all kinds of influencers are putting a climate change and a sustainable actions agenda on a social media communication. However, those messages most of the time are fulfilled with an emphasis of guild, shame, pity, sadness and of course a moral judgment. Other issue related with “stars” is that one day they try to shame us on unsustainable behavior and the next day they will share the image of unforgettable experience with a Rolex watch in the yacht somewhere in the Mediterranean. And let’s guess which of the picture will remain in the top place in our minds.
Probably would be wise to try to turn around the perception of sustainable way of living and finally to drop labels of peasantry, lack of quality, plainness and poorness of tastes. If we just could move sustainable choices to a luxurious and extremely posh grade of perception that could become an important piece of a game changing puzzle. People would follow influencers not because they feel shame and guilt of current behavior but because their personal ego will benefit from it overwhelmingly.
Moreover, an important side of sustainability and climate change is the perception of an ideology. Very often, a climate change topic has a trail of restricting and demanding new order that people are naturally rejecting. Of course, we should not expect to have a change without a pain but I believe here could be much more done with the presentation and implementation appearance. More voluntary sustainable way of living might take root when contrary actions will be unfashionable, with the sense of retardation and lower graded by all the society. I would say that this phenomenon was at some degree reached in the United States with the cigarettes smoking culture. Cigarettes were crowded out from big parts of all age groups not only because it is unhealthy but also because it was very lame to be a smoker. This practice could be much more explored in the new age request to crowd out the current way of consuming, the usage of fossil materials and the anthropocentric behavior.
Besides, if these ideas look hardly adaptable to some parts of a society or even are un-implementable to some of us, I would like to oppose here, as like never before in the history, we are very well positioned and have majority-influencing tools to eventually make a difference. Last decades of IT development made big part of all people around the globe empowered to see and read what is happening instantly. Information could be spread in all possible directions, forms and timing. Together bypassing separate governments and their ideologies. The enforcement could be initiated by critical mass even without support from institutions.
Alfred Adler once very well noticed that people tend to block the effectiveness of communal life by their cravings for power. More we try to pursue power, ambitions and individual motivators, less we care about the common good. With a slight push to increase communal feelings, we could prepare much better to change the path of all society, as individually to do so is almost impossible.
We have tools; we have ideas; still missing a specific plan; still missing unity on the agenda; still missing the belief of individual empowerment to change anything. What will be your next step?