“It had never gotten old for him, flying. Never gone boring. Every engine start was a new adventure, guiding the spirit of a lovely machine back into life; every takeoff blending his spirit with its own to do what’s never been done in history, to lift away from the ground and fly.” ~ Richard Bach (2009), Hypnotizing Maria

Why Engines Are Relevant to Eco-Friendly Innovation?

When we dream about eco-friendly innovation, oftentimes we also disparagingly dismiss all the innovation that has enabled climate change, biodiversity loss, daunting wealth disparities, and more. 

This is a mistake. 

Yes, the carbon emissions produced from airplanes, cars, buses, and other modes of transport have caused us many problems. 

However, they also solved many problems we had before the Industrial Revolution. 

Hear me out. 

With the invention of the internal combustion engine, we were able to make travel and transport significantly faster and more efficient. 

What did this lead to?

Here are just a few of the effects:

Children who initially lived too remote to attend school now could, thus increasing literacy and empowering all economic classes. Agricultural productivity skyrocketed because instead of relying on human and animal power, we could use tractors and other farm machinery, leading to greater food security and economic growth. 

Postal services were significantly faster, enabling quicker communication across long distances. Finally, engine-powered vehicles improved waste collection and disposal systems, facilitating the transportation of fresh produce and medical supplies, enhancing public health and sanitation as a result.

That is a long list of incredibly impactful outcomes, all with a direct link to the same invention. 

While now the internal combustion engine has resulted in issues related to climate, waste, pollution, and more, the history of problem-solving and innovation behind it still hold several important lessons for anyone interested in driving change. 

Those are the lessons I am going to share with you now. 

#1: Efficiency 

First stop: efficiency. 

This is one of the greatest strengths of the internal combustion engine. If you boil it down, it’s as simple as this: air and fuel go in, an explosion takes place in the cylinders, and power is produced. 

In reality though, the efficiency of our modern-day engines took over 100 years to perfect. 

The lesson here?

Optimizing existing processes can lead to better resource utilization than implementing something completely new, which is crucial to eco-friendly innovation. 

Example from Engine History: The transition from steam engines to internal combustion engines significantly increased efficiency. Steam engines were bulky and less efficient in converting fuel to motion, whereas internal combustion engines offered a more compact and efficient power source.

#2: Problem-Solving Through Iteration 

Most of us live in a binary of pure success or absolute failure. 

In actual fact, during creative problem-solving, success and failure aren’t mutually exclusive. 

This is why it’s important to understand the concept of iteration– testing, adjusting, all while constantly inching toward an optimal solution. 

This embrace of trial-and-error can foster resilience and creativity, which are necessary traits to the eco-friendly problem-solver.

Example from Engine History: The development of the jet engine involved numerous iterations and prototypes. 

Frank Whittle’s early designs in the 1930s faced multiple challenges, but persistent problem-solving and continuous improvements led to the successful deployment of jet engines during World War II.

#3: Collaboration & Knowledge-Sharing 

In a world of politics and competition at every level, this may seem like a naive but obvious lesson- to actually talk, collaborate, and share. 

Nevertheless, it must be noted.

Creating platforms for collaboration and open knowledge-sharing can accelerate eco-friendly innovation.

Example from Engine History: The collaboration between Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach led to significant advancements in engine technology. 

Their partnership and sharing of knowledge resulted in the development of high-speed internal combustion engines, which revolutionized transportation.

#4: Societal Impact

Last stop: societal impact!

This is frequently the lowest on anyone’s list of priorities, but to truly solve any problem, it is vital to consider how your work impacts a wider community of stakeholders. 

Understanding this can guide responsible development and help avoid any further damage to our planet or to other people in society. 

For example, the development of renewable energy technologies not only addresses environmental concerns but also has the potential to provide energy access to remote and underserved communities, promoting social equity.

Example from Engine History: The mass production of automobiles powered by internal combustion engines, pioneered by Henry Ford’s assembly line techniques, transformed society by making personal transportation widely accessible. 

This had profound effects on urban planning, commerce, and daily life.

The Future: Eco-Friendly Innovation

Now that you have peeked behind the curtain at some of the most valuable insights from over a century of innovation on the internal combustion engine, it’s time to talk about the future. 

According to the European Union Joint Research Commission, over 80% of all product-related climate impacts are determined throughout the design stage of a product. 

This means that sustainable product design is absolutely crucial to lowering pollution, increasing accessibility to all demographics, cultivating water and energy security, and so on.

We have a responsibility to be stewards to our planet and society, and one of the most impactful ways to do that is through our careers. 

By applying these lessons from the intricate history behind the internal combustion engine, not only can you be inspired by those who contributed to such an amazing feat of engineering, but also empowered to apply your creativity and problem-solving to creating eco-friendly solutions. 

Thought to Action

1. Pursue: Pursue an free interdisciplinary education online to expand your awareness of other subject areas. 
2. Embrace: Embrace constraints to fuel creativity. Some ways you can do this are by:
   1. Setting time constraints or deadlines to complete a project. 
   2. Create solutions that work within environmental limitations, such as developing products or systems that are sustainable, energy-efficient, or adaptable to harsh conditions.
   3. Design for users with specific needs, such as accessibility requirements. This can lead to more inclusive and innovative designs that cater to a broader audience.
   4. Choose a prompt, theme, intention or idea to commit to as your starting point then base your project off this concept. 
3. Seek Out: Seek out collaborations with professionals from other disciplines. 
4. Diversify: Diversify your reading habits. Explore books, journals, and articles from other disciplines. 
5. Join: Join or create think tanks and innovation labs that focus on interdisciplinary collaboration. These environments are designed to foster creative thinking and problem-solving across various fields.

Sources

Before you dive into the vast ocean of online information, make sure you’re not sailing on a raft of rumors…Check your sources!

Bach, Richard. Hypnotizing Maria. Hampton Roads Publishing, 18 Sept. 2009.

Bowie, Desiree. “What Is an Internal Combustion Engine?” HowStuffWorks, HowStuffWorks, 18 July 2023, science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/inventions/internal-combustion-engine.htm. Accessed 28 July 2024.

Frankel, Andrew. “A Life Well Lived: Tracing 120 Years of the Combustion Engine.” Autocar, Autocar, 15 May 2021, www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/features/life-well-lived-tracing-120-years-combustion-engine. Accessed 28 July 2024.

“Gasoline Engine – Internal Combustion, Ignition, Efficiency | Britannica.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 2024, www.britannica.com/technology/gasoline-engine/Development-of-gasoline-engines. Accessed 28 July 2024.

“Internal Combustion Engine Basics.” Energy.gov, 2024, www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/internal-combustion-engine-basics. Accessed 28 July 2024.

Loughlin, Bronagh. “Why Is Sustainable Product Design and Innovation Important.” Institute of Sustainability Studies, 25 Sept. 2023, instituteofsustainabilitystudies.com/insights/guides/why-is-sustainable-product-design-and-innovation-important/. Accessed 28 July 2024.

“Malevus.” Malevus, 5 Sept. 2022, malevus.com/history-of-engine/#google_vignette. Accessed 28 July 2024.

Rong, Blake Z. “​​the Evolution of the Combustion Engine​​.” Popular Mechanics, Popular Mechanics, 5 June 2018, www.popularmechanics.com/cars/car-technology/a19854205/the-evolution-of-the-combustion-engine/. Accessed 28 July 2024.

“Sustainable Product Policy.” EU Science Hub, 2023, joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/scientific-activities-z/sustainable-product-policy_en. Accessed 28 July 2024.

Todd, Benjamin. “This Is Your Most Important Decision.” 80,000 Hours, 24 May 2023, 80000hours.org/make-a-difference-with-your-career/. Accessed 28 July 2024.

What is eco innovation. “5 Benefits of Eco Innovation.” Greenly.earth, 13 Feb. 2024, greenly.earth/en-gb/blog/ecology-news/5-benefits-of-eco-innovation. Accessed 28 July 2024.

The post Unlock Eco-Friendly Innovations: 4 Powerful Lessons from Engine History appeared first on Green Also Green.

Today is the day in which I dispel lies with a righteous sword of truth. Here goes nothing: The institution of Recycling is a Sham. Now before you storm off angrily and tattle on me to Greta Thunberg, first read my article Greta Thunberg’s Got It Wrong…But We Can’t Get It Right Without Her, then if you haven’t double-stormed off, let me unpack this. By “Sham” I do not mean recycling isn’t a worthwhile or noble pursuit. Nor do I mean there isn’t a solid philosophy behind placing it as a priority. Nor do I mean if it actually worked, it wouldn’t be beneficial. What I do mean here by the word “Sham”, a word itself of ironically uncertain origin, is that the way we recycle isn’t working. Once again, let me reiterate, recycling is noble, but the system is broken.

And side note- who came up with the word sham, and if we can’t find out, does the word describe itself?

In any event, to understand why I’ve become a recycling heretic, let’s start somewhere familiar. You’ve just downed the last drop of water from a- I daresay- single-use plastic water bottle, and now must dispose of the ephemerally-used yet eternally-present item. Of course, for the sake of brevity we’ll forgive you for not using a state-of-the-art Klean Kanteen Classic Water Bottle with a loop cap and capacity of 27 fl oz. in turquoise blue. Naturally, you can’t be perfect all the time. However, being the environmentally-conscious citizen that you are, you turn with pride to the green recycling bin beside you. You let out a sigh of relief. Yes, you assure yourself, I forgot my Hydro Flask today, but at least I recycled. 

Webb, D. (2018). [Online Image] Everyday Plastic. Available at: https://www.everydayplastic.org/report [Accessed 22 Aug. 2022].

This story is a tragedy faced by millions, most poignantly so because millions of recyclers worldwide don’t even realize what a tragedy it is. Why is this tragic you ask? Well, a plastic bottle takes 450 years to decompose, some other forms of plastic taking up to 1,000 years. While you might think recycling takes away from this cumbersome tax on the planet, it actually makes a negligible difference, with few items in any given recycling bin ever contributing meaningfully to a circular economy. Instead, the majority of it will end up in a landfill or in nature. According to City to Sea, by 2015, 6 billion tons of plastic waste had been produced, but only 90% has ever been recycled. 79% of that has ended up in a landfill or the natural environment, with the remaining 12% being incinerated. To name just a few examples, when plastic accidentally ends up in the wild, it can disrupt food chains, leaching harmful chemicals into the bodies of those who ingest it, and put animals at risk of entanglement. To add insult to injury, recycled plastic is also more expensive than virgin plastic, leaving businesses with little incentive to actually use it. After researching, I’ve chosen not to include an overwhelming amount of additional statistics due to the range in numbers and the inherent uncertainties of quantifying garbage in a meaningful way. However if you’re interested, please see my sources for more details. 

In any event, now that you have a sense of the issue at hand, how did it actually become an issue? After all, the notion of recycling waste in an endless circular economy sounds wonderful. However the realities of material science make this process much more complicated. Think of all the things you have thrown into the recycling bin. All these things are handled differently when they reach the recycling facility and must be eventually separated accordingly. You might think you’re in the clear if you separate plastics, glass, and metals, but even that is not enough. If you were to just take the plastic category, there are several items which can’t be recycled together. To take just one example, clear plastic bottles can’t be recycled with green ones because the dye prohibits it from being turned back to a clear plastic, lowering its market value- which is already low for recycled plastic. This is why all Sprite bottles are now clear.  

Webb, D. (2018). [Online Image] Everyday Plastic. Available at: https://www.everydayplastic.org/report [Accessed 22 Aug. 2022].

However complicated this might be, few items in any given recycling bin even make it to this point at all, with much of it ending up in oceans or landfills otherwise. In fact, according to the Plastics Europe organization, only 32% of plastic in Europe is recycled. This is just one material in one continent. Why is this the case? In brief, economics. For starters, in 2018, China, the largest buyer of U.S.A. recyclables at the time, stopped importing recyclable items. Yet it’s not all China’s fault, because even in 2016, engineer and author Richard Fulmer could see the faults with this system. “Recycling resources costs resources,” he wrote. “…All this also produces pollution- from the factories that build the trucks and from the fuel borned to power them, and from the factories that produce the components to build and construct the recycling plant and from the fuel burned to power the plant.” 

The importance of economics also applies to the value of recycled materials versus their more pure counterparts. For example, according to Everyday Plastic, plastic packaging has about 2-3 cycles before it can no longer be recycled due to poor quality. Because of this gradual decrease in quality each time it goes through one of these cycles, recycled plastic has a low market value, which means it’s not as attractive as brand new plastic when being sold for usage. 

That said, contributing to a better system of handling garbage might seem like an impossible task. On the one hand some might insist that you simply cut plastic out of your life entirely. In my opinion, this misses the point. Plastic, in smaller and more manageable amounts, is necessary. After all, there are highly valuable ways to use it as well, such as for prosthetics and the use of sterile equipment in the healthcare industry. The issue here is pushing the use of one material to the extreme, which is unfortunately the case in a plastics-driven society. For this reason, a holistic approach is needed. 

Webb, D. (2018). [Online Image] Everyday Plastic. Available at: https://www.everydayplastic.org/report [Accessed 22 Aug. 2022].

To prove this, let’s travel back in time. The earliest account of recycling paper is from 1031 in Japan, where an absence of raw materials and skilled workers led to the creation of several paper mills which used recycled waste paper to produce shukushi paper, which has a gray tint. Ultimately, this recycled paper even replaced traditional paper. Another example is glass recycling in Ancient Rome, where some people would collect broken glass and sell it back to glasshouses. 

Unlike most recycling currently, these practices fit securely into a framework which was financially lucrative and socially beneficial. In Japan, it addressed the lack of raw materials while providing the population with paper. In Ancient Rome, it cleared away broken glass while providing individuals with an income. Nowadays, recycling is not a lucrative endeavor, which is why so many local governments are putting a stop to it. Rather than being controlled by the government, it will only survive if controlled by a free market which provides individuals and businesses an economic incentive to pursue it.  

With that in mind, how are you to live in a world fraught with items that probably will never get recycled? Let’s start with giving a makeover to everyone’s favorite eco-friendly mantra, the three R’s. Most of us were taught Reduce, Reuse, Recycle in school, but I say we go with City to Sea’s four R’s, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse & Refill, and only after applying these should we resort to recycling. This approach leads to less waste and consumption, offering a more economically and socially viable solution as well. Matching environmental initiatives with socio economic incentives is, after all, the only way to ensure their longevity. 

Another important step in reducing waste is shopping in such a way that will make these goals easier. Do research about the companies you shop from or invest in and reduce the friction required to be a socially-responsible consumer. Having said that, what do you do when you’re already in the store and don’t have time to do deep research? One way to filter through items is to go through a checklist. This might involve questions like Will this item add value to my life?How long will this last?Are there any options available that I know are better? Will I actually use this? With just those criteria, you are likely to end up with much fewer purchases in your shopping basket.  Ultimately though, there is no one who is always perfectly socially responsible, so it’s important to be patient with yourself and others. The crucial thing to remember when feeling overwhelmed is to focus on just taking the next step in the right direction. 

The good news is that there are already companies and individuals taking this step. Perhaps you know someone who brings reusable bags to the grocery store or carries around a reusable water bottle. Maybe you know someone who shops at thrift stores or turns down plastic straws. Maybe you know someone who has given up fish, given that fishing gear accounts for approximately 70% of plastics more than 20cm in size that float on the surface of the ocean, and 86% of plastic waste on the seafloor. Those are just a few examples. There also exist large corporations that have implemented effective strategies, such as Bodyshop, who has rolled out refill stations across 400 stores globally throughout 2021 and is launching 400 additional stations in 2022. What makes this initiative so effective is that it’s not just environmentally beneficial, but also saves customers money, as each refill contains an extra 50 ml of product for free. This synergy is absolutely essential in reducing the amount of single-use plastic that ends up in landfills and the environment. 

With that said, perhaps now you have also become a recycling heretic. If not that, at least you might’ve decided on a new catchy mantra for your eco-philosophy: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse & Refill– and if you get overwhelmed, just remember to do the next right thing. 

Follow GreenAlsoGreen on Instagram @greenalsogreen

Thought to Action

• One suggestion from the organization City to Sea is to Refuse, Reduce, Reuse & Refill, only opting for Recycle after the other options have been attempted. Check out their Essential Guide to Recycling for a direct explanation of how to handle different types of plastics. 
• Check to see what is recyclable in your area using this website & browse its content for more helpful tips. 
• Check out this 45 minute long documentary, Dirty Business: What Really Happens to Your Recycling
• Use reusable bottles & cups.
• Wash & dry plastic items before sending them to be recycled. 
• Avoid using plastic straws.
• Swap out your regular toothbrush for a bamboo toothbrush.
• Bring your own bags when shopping for groceries. 
• Give up gum.
  • It’s made of synthetic rubber, which is a form of plastic. 
• Switch to bar soap & boxed detergent. 
  • For your hair, you can use a shampoo or conditioner bar. This still reduces waste from packaging. 
• Bring reusable cutlery & containers for take-out food. 
  • Instead of using the single-use styrofoam  or plastic containers restaurants offer for takeout, you can request to put your food in your own container. 
  • Keep lightweight bamboo cutlery with you so you can use it instead of plastic utensils.
• Shop at thrift stores.
  • Pre-owned items have already been taken out of their original plastic packaging, so purchasing them contributes to less plastic waste. 
• Purchase non-perishable food items in bulk to avoid extra packaging.
• When shaving, use a razor with replaceable blades rather than a disposable razor.
• See here for a list of 17 ways to reduce your plastic waste. 

Bibliography

City to Sea. (2019a). Recycling Guide – City to Sea – An essential guide to recycling. [online] Available at: https://www.citytosea.org.uk/essential-guide-to-recycling/ [Accessed 16 Aug. 2022].

City to Sea. (2019b). Why plastic recycling doesn’t work | City to Sea | The problem with plastic. [online] Available at: https://www.citytosea.org.uk/plastic-recycling-doesnt-work/.

Dell, J.E., Jan (2022). Plastic Recycling Doesn’t Work and Will Never Work. [online] The Atlantic. Available at: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/05/single-use-plastic-chemical-recycling-disposal/661141/ [Accessed 16 Aug. 2022].

Fisher, J. (2022). The Big Plastic Count: Survey shows ‘recycling doesn’t work’. BBC News. [online] 12 Jul. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-62126757 [Accessed 14 Aug. 2022].

Greeneducationfoundation.org. (2008). Tips to Use Less Plastic – Green Education Foundation | GEF | Sustainability Education. [online] Available at: http://www.greeneducationfoundation.org/nationalgreenweeksub/waste-reduction-tips/tips-to-use-less-plastic.html.

hutchinson (2008). Is Recycling Worth It? PM Investigates its Economic and Environmental Impact. [online] Popular Mechanics. Available at: https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/a3752/4291566/ [Accessed 16 Aug. 2022].

Daca, A. (n.d.). Plastic waste from the fishing industry. [online] CP3. Available at: https://www.cp3montreal.com/articles/plastic-waste-fishing-industry [Accessed 19 Aug. 2022].

Masterclass (2020). 5 reasons why… Recycling is not the answer. [online] Everyday Plastic. Available at: https://www.everydayplastic.org/blog/5-reasons-why-recycling-is-not-the-answer [Accessed 16 Aug. 2022].

Miltimore, J. (2019). America Finally Admits Recycling Doesn’t Work | Jon Miltimore. [online] Fee.org. Available at: https://fee.org/articles/america-finally-admits-recycling-doesn-t-work/ [Accessed 16 Aug. 2022].

Peters, A. (2021). Why Sprite is ditching green bottles. [online] Fast Company. Available at: https://www.fastcompany.com/90602485/why-sprite-is-ditching-green-bottles.

Plastics Europe (n.d.). Recycling • Plastics Europe. [online] Plastics Europe. Available at: https://plasticseurope.org/sustainability/circularity/recycling/ [Accessed 17 Aug. 2022].

Recyclenow.com. (2019). Recycle Now | Where and How to Recycle. [online] Available at: https://www.recyclenow.com/ [Accessed 16 Aug. 2022].

Shift, T.P. (2020). The Issue with Low-Value Plastics. [online] Medium. Available at: https://medium.com/@theplasticshift/the-issue-with-low-value-plastics-5fedb4dcd49a [Accessed 17 Aug. 2022].

Sky News (2018). Dirty Business: what really happens to your recycling. [online] www.youtube.com. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRQLilXLAIU&t=1193s [Accessed 16 Aug. 2022].

Wearth Editorial Team (2021). How To Dispose Of Single Use Plastic Safely & Responsibly | Wearth. [online] Wearth London. Available at: https://www.wearthlondon.com/blog/how-to-dispose-of-plastic-waste-safely/ [Accessed 16 Aug. 2022].

www.penn.museum. (n.d.). Penn Museum | Amarna: Ancient Egypt’s Place in the Sun. [online] Available at: https://www.penn.museum/sites/amarna/funfacts.shtml [Accessed 16 Aug. 2022].

Hintons Skips UK Ltd. (2018). Hinton’s Waste. [online] Available at: https://www.hintonswaste.co.uk/news/history-of-recycling-timeline/.

www.texasrecycling.com. (2022). The History of Recycling: A Timeline | Texas Recycling Center. [online] Available at: https://www.texasrecycling.com/articles/history-of-recycling-to-modern-recycling/.

Shirley, S. and CMO (n.d.). What Is The Plastic Pollution Impact on Wildlife | Factory Direct Promos. [online] FactoryDirect. Available at: https://www.factorydirectpromos.com/blog/what-is-the-plastic-pollution-impact-on-wildlife/.

The post  Recycling Plastic: A Shameful Sham appeared first on Green Also Green.

Outrage is a gritty and relentless pandemic, necessary yet temperamental, and easily carried past its usefulness. Make no mistake. I believe in the power of outrage. However, I also believe it must be tamed. It draws attention, but what use is attention without a plan by which to solve a problem?

This question lies at the heart of my complex admiration for and disappointment with Greta Thunberg. While at one time she was the spark the environmental movement needed, she is now the tantrum-thrower pitting that same movement against the other essential seeds of change in the world: business, politics, economics, and lifestyle. What was once necessary is now causing unnecessary apathy and misconceptions about what it means to have both a flourishing society and planet. 

Nevertheless, it’s important to note the monumental importance of Greta’s leadership thus far. Not only has she managed to captivate the global media for a day or even a month, but for years on end, tirelessly pursuing a focus that has taken up huge amounts of energy on her behalf. Greta has exhibited courage in the face of an infinite ocean of eye-rolls and sarcasm that people cast the way of any teenager with a strong opinion. In a world of cynicism, she remains sure of herself. This is commendable, not only for someone so young or even for someone with Asperger’s, but also for someone with so few credentials to start out with. She has used her voice without waiting for permission from an institution, inspiring millions of other people to do so themselves.

Greta Thunberg. (n.d.). [Online Image] Encyclopædia Britannica. Available at: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Greta-Thunberg/images-videos#/media/1/2144102/243662 [Accessed 3 Aug. 2022].

However let’s set this aside for a moment. Yes, Greta is a powerful symbol for something people care about, but is she still the one who will lead meaningful progress? At this point, I would say no. Instead of inciting fruitful alliances, she incites alarmism and resentment towards authority figures and older generations. 

Along this vein is the overarching theme of extremism, and the cult-like requirements upon which to confirm that one is acting “ethically” or “eco-friendly”. She engages in constant diatribes against politicians, economists, and entrepreneurs which don’t do anything to advance the cause she advocates for. Instead, these encounters only create the illusion of progress through outrage. To rub salt in the wound, her blunt outrage not only burns bridges between socioeconomic and environmental interests; It also encourages a culture of helpless complaining. Most flagrantly offensive is the subsequent lack of actual actionable advice on how to approach any of the problems she scrutinizes so aggressively. Without any place to channel the resentment she has generated, what does it actually achieve?

Instead of a tantrum, the move towards aligning socio economic interests with environmental ones now requires a voice that unites rather than divides. Much like the difference between Malcolm X’s and Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s contribution to the Civil Rights Movement, the campaign towards fighting climate change now requires a shift toward practical yet impactful action. It calls for grassroots efforts barely perceptible on a personal scale but with monumental knock-on effects higher up. It’s about the butterfly effect, a phenomenon within chaos theory used to describe how seemingly trivially changes in initial conditions can lead to drastically different outcomes. 

Now let’s analyze this notion of tiny shifts in initial conditions. Firstly, allow me to call this “practical” without any incessant quibbling about semantics. This is less about what a word like “practical” means and more down to labeling the idea. Let’s say the other end of the spectrum is “extreme” to indicate the all-or-nothing view that huge shifts in one’s lifestyle is the only viable solution. One more thing: keep in mind that while these are two words to describe two ideas, they do not exist separately, but rather as two ends of the same spectrum. On the one end you have the beautifully accessible and easy-to-implement approach that allows you to effect change without creating discomfort. On the other you have the gloriously passionate and memorable spark that lights everyone’s hearts on fire with motivation and is themself making huge steps all the time. However there is a downside to demanding huge efforts from everyone all the time. The downside is that most people cannot or simply don’t want to become full time activists or hard-core vegans. Nor do most people want to give up everything they’ve ever known just because their creature-comforts are suddenly stained with moral gravity. 

Yet there is also a downside to never making huge steps, and that is forgetting why anyone makes any steps at all. This is why a balanced approach is necessary. My view is that Greta misses out on this. She is so all-or-nothing that all the people who feel compelled to do something– but not a monumental life-altering something- get lost. It is either “give up your cushy modern lifestyle” or “watch your planet burn”. There is no in-between, but there ought to be.

Anon, (n.d.). [Online Image] Pixabay. Available at: https://www.pexels.com/photo/planet-earth-87651/ [Accessed 3 Aug. 2022].

How can someone go about measuring the extent to which any given approach is “practical”? Selon moi, it comes down to time, money, and utility. I’d also like to note that these are factors which don’t apply to rich nations exclusively, but also to less economically developed ones too. This must be stated because it’s otherwise easy to forget that different walks of life require different solutions. See below for questions that can be used to determine the extent to which any given approach to “practical” environmentalism is, in actual fact, practical. 

Time 

• Are people likely to have time to be involved in this approach?
• When will this approach first show a positive effect?
• How long does it take to implement?

Money 

• Is this approach only suitable for affluent nations or is it available to all income levels?
• Does this approach help the economy by creating jobs, developing infrastructure, enhancing education, etc.?
• Is there financial incentive for consumers and businesses to favor this approach?

Utility

• Does this approach add value to people’s lives?
• Is this approach culturally appropriate?
• Does this approach help solve other social or economic issues like education, health, food/water insecurity, political conflict, etc.?
• Is this solution scalable?

Now this might seem like it requires extensive innovation and a boatload of cash, but I’m excited to say that we can put all that aside for a moment and just say thank you to the innovations that have, indeed, already been innovated over the long and winding course of history. This is something I look forward to exploring in a future article, particularly regarding empires that lasted for thousands of years precisely by holding sustainability at their core- even though they might’ve called it by a different name at the time. 

Ultimately, what I care to say about this has little to do with Greta. Really, it’s about stating what it will realistically take to make the kinds of changes she has already highlighted must be made. The truth is that it simply will not happen by making enemies out of every powerful political figure. It will not happen by condemning the modern lifestyle. It will not happen by condemning older generations. On that note, it will also not happen by condemning Greta or her enemies. We are all simultaneously the guilty criminal and the victim of the various levels of crime-against-humanity which have led to the current climate situation. This calls for a shift from blame, to responsibility, to cooperation. The time has come to turn outrage into action. What kind of action, you might ask? The practical kind. 

Thought to Action

• When shopping for appliances, look for Energy Star products, which are certified to be more energy efficient.
• Bring a reusable bag with you when you shop.
• Try Tru Earth’s laundry eco-strips to save space, money, and the planet. If not, at least watch their wonderfully amusing ads to put a smile on your face: Things You Should Never Mix with Water or Real Men do Laundry
• Did you know that if every single person in France deleted 50 emails, the energy savings would be equivalent to turning the Eiffel tower’s lights off for 42 years or to New York City not consuming any electricity for 4 hours? If you want to contribute to saving energy on this scale:
  • refuse unnecessary notifications that clog your inbox
  • unsubscribe to newsletters/subscriptions you no longer find useful
  • delete emails with large attachments
  • clear out your junk mail folder regularly
• Make an effort to stop receiving junk mail by following these steps.

Bibliography

Burtan, M. (2019). Why Greta Thunberg’s Leadership of the Environmental Movement is so Important. [online] Resilience. Available at: https://www.resilience.org/stories/2019-06-03/why-greta-thunbergs-leadership-of-the-environmental-movement-is-so-important/.

Cho, R. (2018). The 35 Easiest Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint. [online] State of the Planet. Available at: https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2018/12/27/35-ways-reduce-carbon-footprint/.

Clark, B. (2007). The Butterfly Effect and the Environment: How Tiny Actions Can Save the World. [online] Copyblogger. Available at: https://copyblogger.com/butterfly-effect-environment/.

fmljack2018 (2019). Clean Up Your Email Inbox and Help Save Energy –. [online] Thoroughly Modern Grandma. Available at: https://thoroughlymoderngrandma.com/clean-up-your-email-inbox-and-help-save-energy/ [Accessed 31 Jul. 2022].

Gorbatenko, D. (2019). The Real Problem with Greta Thunberg Is Not Her Age | Daniil Gorbatenko. [online] fee.org. Available at: https://fee.org/articles/the-real-problem-with-greta-thunberg-is-not-her-age/.

Which? (2021). How do I stop unwanted junk mail? [online] Which? Available at: https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/how-do-i-stop-unwanted-junk-mail-a69Ed0z8dVnq [Accessed 31 Jul. 2022].

Wirtz, B. (2019). By All Means, Let’s Criticize Greta Thunberg. [online] The American Conservative. Available at: https://www.theamericanconservative.com/by-all-means-lets-criticize-greta-thunberg/ [Accessed 28 Jul. 2022].

The post Greta Thunberg’s Got It Wrong…But We Can’t Get It Right Without Her appeared first on Green Also Green.