Whose responsibility is it anyways?

One of the debates in circles of people who care about acting on climate change and related environmental destruction (biodiversity anyone?) is where to put ones energy. And debating if the “focus” on individual behaviors and actions is really just a way for industry to shift blame or detract from energy and focus going into creating regulations to hold industry accountable. Their sneaky tactic is to shift the needed changes (and ergo responsibility) to the consumer. This can be used a tactic to divide the environmental movement.

Personally I see both individual action and behavior change AND industry AND government action as equally important. Or close to equally. I see that the changes we need will come about both through push and pull mechanisms. From top down and ground up. It requires an all-hands on deck intensive focus and related action. The thing is - industry and government are made up of individuals, and we can see how the impact of individuals who have decision making power can derail or enhance action.

I myself am trying to increase my involvement in the political process. Trying to pay attention to what my local county council is making decisions on. Writing to the members. I haven’t really done this much in the past. I’ve donated to organizations that “do” this on a regular basis but less frequently raised my own voice in solidarity.

What I realized the other week, as the Montgomery Council was voting on some zoning changes - watered down from the initial proposal - zoning changes to allow solar farms in the agricultural reserve - what I realized was that if one isn’t already vested in some way, if someone doesn’t already have some skin in the game for acting on climate change, why would someone - then contact their county council on a related issue? We can read headlines and lament - and then move on with our day with the only result being that we tut-tutted a bit. Outrage without action doesn’t result in change.

One of the benefits I see to taking individual action is that it raises ones level of personal awareness around the issues at hand. Without that deeper awareness or understanding it would be easy to just hear a slogan or a headline or a talking point and take it at face value.

Essentially I don’t see my average friend (none of you are average!) or acquaintance protesting or weighing in on say a pipeline crossing through sacred indigenous lands, unless they are already taking individual actions to reduce their personal impact.

We don’t have a lot of time to get going on acting on climate change - and we don’t have a lot of time to get involved, research, protest, petition, understand the impact of our votes. Life is busy and there are injustices to be addressed.

Change is a process and we have to start somewhere. If that start is with using reusable grocery bags - do it. If that start is using a reusable water bottle - do it. If that start is saying, hmm, I’m thinking about a new car, let me consider where EVs are now and how often I really drive more than X miles in a shot - then do it.

I had a friend who liked to point out that my efforts at reducing my usage of plastic was pointless because the medical industry produces so much. I disagree. Less trash is less trash. Less carbon equivalents released into the atmosphere, the less carbon equivalents released. If you just eat the top of the muffin or half a donut - you still ate it. Those calories still exist. That 5lb weight gain a year doesn’t just happen on its own. The yearly increase or preferably DECREASE in emissions doesn’t just happen on its on. The Think Method doesn’t work it, it requires doing (even if that doing is in effect not doing something - getting deep here!)

When looking at change, its important to avoid all or nothing thinking. I can’t stop all plastic pollution, but I can change my contribution to this problem. I can’t stop all the natural gas leaks I smell in my neighborhood, but I can raise awareness and push for action.

Government action and industry change don’t just happen on their own. Our voices and actions as citizens and consumers drive change. Our voices and actions are frequently up against the big marketing and lobbying arms of industry. Our voices, our votes and our actions need to be louder.

I just started reading The New Climate War: The Fight to Take Back Our Planet by Michael E. Mann which goes into the efforts of fossil fuel companies to undermine action on climate change. I’m sure it will generate more thoughts on this topic, so stay tuned!