The Somebody Else Will Do It Paradox

A recent study out of the UK found that 81 % of respondents were fairly or very concerned about Climate Change and that 75% of them said they'd change their habits in order to help combat it. Although we may not enjoy our afternoon tea and scones as much as they do, I'm sure the numbers would be quite similar this side of the Atlantic. Unfortunately, whether here or in the UK, these changes never amount to much more than recycling the morning paper.

Why is this?

Is it because environmentalists fail to convey the urgency of the matter?

Although some studies suggest that problems might arise as late as 2050, anybody who pays a little attention to what they're reading will see that we must act now in order to avert such changes, and that these changes might very well arise sooner rather than later. Moreover, other studies suggest that emissions must be cut within the next 5-6 years if we wish to avoid crossing the Rubicon (ie. 2 degrees of warming).

Is it because people feel that recycling is enough?

We've all heard Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. The order is actually important here. Sure recycling is better than not recycling, but it's sort of like using a beach ball to plug a volcano. The problem is over-consumption.


Or maybe people feel their individual contribution is insignificant?

I agree that it might all seem quite overwhelming in the grand scheme of things, but it's brick by brick that you build a home (pardon the somewhat lame cliché). It has been through individual consumption that we have arrived at the present crisis, so individually we will have to turn things around. Not being part of the solution is being part of the problem.

My theory is that people, in general, always hope somebody else will do it.
Especially when it comes to making even the smallest sacrifice.

Luckily, not everybody likes idling on the sidelines. Here 's a few little things you can do tomorrow to help make a difference:

Try to use biodegradable laundry and dish soaps.
Save your kitchen scraps for the compost pile.
Use re-usable containers to store foods, not plastic wraps and foil.
Use public transit.
Ride your bike or walk instead.
Check your lifestyle and think about the effects of your daily actions on the environment.
Pick up one piece of trash off the sidewalk each day.
Choose at least one food item to always buy local and/or organic.
Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth.
Talk about these things with your friends and neighbors.

Any of these.

...or, you can send us an e-mail with your thoughts, or better yet, volunteer with Car Free Mile-End - a real and tangible effort to think globally and act locally ;)

Mathieu