I just watched Annie Leonard’s “The Story of Cap & Trade” and am thankful for the growing public voice questioning the emissions trading scheme. There is so much talk about Copenhagen right now it is a fantastic opportunity to ignite people into real change for the better.
I’m certainly not an expert, a scientist or authority on the subject and am maybe a little cynical and too opinionated but I can’t help feel that so much of the hype about climate change and emissions trading is almost detrimental to generating a real groundswell for positive change and I have spoken on this before specifically in Discovering the Heart of our Environmental Conscience.
Is it not a little scary that we have been prompted to be so fearful of climate change and are now jumping to adopt a scheme that is meant to avoid the crisis but could see certain people making big profits?
I understand that emissions’ trading scheme is being considered as a way to reduce carbon in the atmosphere and this is a good thing. I simply wish we would hear more about other ways of reducing our environmental impact as well.
Like governments and big companies investing in clean energy, renewable resources, recycled materials and a reduction in consumption and dirty manufacturing process. Or conservation of natural habitats, sustainable farming and building methods, there are so many things that we all can do to reduce the effects of pollution and waste on our planet. There is more to our “environmental crisis” than just carbon.
And we do hear about these positive measures, yet I am fearful of emissions trading being branded around as a cure all for the scary threat of Climate Change and that we are forgetting about everything else.
Climate change or not we need to reduce the negative impact our modern lifestyle is having on the planet and people. There are no grand solutions that mean we can continue to live as we do and someone else will ‘fix the problem’. It all comes down to the individual; it is within our power to make choices and there are simple things each of us can do that can reduce our waste, our reliance on chemicals, our consumption and energy use.
All of us have a real opportunity to live a simpler, more environmentally conscious life, that takes into account the effect our modern lifestyle has on the planet and the people of the earth.
I understand that we need big solutions to energy and waste and that these need to come from our governments. But the governments are there to represent us, the people, we need to stand up and ask questions, fight for cleaner energy and demand a true environmental conscience in policies and practices.
We, the people, are driving this polluting energy consumption machine and we are the ones that can slow it down.
There is a growing community of people around the world stepping back and developing a new, slower pace of living and adopting simple new habits and practices that can have a real positive effect on our own lives and the lives of all others.
We need to believe we can make a difference no matter how small. The life of the planet, the conservation of natural habitats and the right of all people to live a sustainable, happy, healthy and free existence is so very important. Carbon is a real problem but is it the only one?
Can we make a difference by adopting a simpler lifestyle? How do you feel about Climate Change and Carbon Emissions Trading? Am I being narrow minded or unrealistic? What do you think of “The Story of Cap & Trade?
This is a heated topic so I would love to hear your thoughts?
You can watch Annie Leonard’s “The Story of Cap & Trade” below or visit the site here for further information:
Related posts:
- Discovering the Heart of our Environmental Conscience : Blog Action Day
- 5 Ways we all can Speak Out against Poverty and Stand Up against Greed!
- The challenge to change ourselves…
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"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do." ~Hellen Keller
