Are we prepared to make the sort of changes required to
solve the global warming crisis and to sustain those changes over the
long-term? And are we willing to pay the price that’s required?
Maybe not, according to a recent UK survey. The website
Unbiased.co.uk found that despite the majority of people saying they
favor a greener lifestyle, 50 percent are not willing to pay more for
one. The online survey found that just 23 percent of people are prepared
to pay a tax designed to reduce carbon emissions from cars. And only a
fifth of air travelers are happy to pay “green taxes” on flights. The
company’s chief executive David Elms says, “Tackling green issues is
probably high on most consumers’ wish lists, yet in reality many are not
prepared to reach into their pockets to help contribute to the cause.”
Even more
bothersome is the suggestion recently made by an ABC News commentator
that we may be experiencing “green fatigue” and are ready to move on to
the next fad of the month. The idea was predicated on the fact that the
television ratings for Al Gore’s Live Earth concert were dismal, at
least in the U.S. where it was the least watched program on that
particular Saturday night. But that may prove nothing except that a lot
of people were cynical about a bunch of rock stars contributing to
global warming in order to stop global warming. Or that we already know
that global warming is a problem and that listening to music or
switching light bulbs isn’t going to solve it.
Or maybe we’re just change-resistant. The changes
required are of a large magnitude. And since we all are motivated to
change when there are financial rewards for good behavior and penalties
for bad, maybe what we really need are a few brave politicians who are
willing to create a few green taxes whether their constituents like it
or not.
Or maybe
we’re cynical about making all the changes personally while industry
continues to crank out more greenhouse gas emissions in a day than any
of us could save in a year. The corporate sector must move beyond its
current level of green talk and into some industrial-strength changes.
It must dramatically increase the energy savings attained by all those
new light bulbs we’re installing by redesigning its policies, products
and practices to reduce its usage of coal and other pollutants.
Rock stars increasing
our awareness of environmental problems and individuals paying green
taxes only matter if the business sector pulls its weight. Where are the
leaders who are going to force that to happen?
Wendy
Priesnitz, Editor
Read Editor Wendy
Priesnitz's Weblog
