The solution to climate change: culture change

The past week has been incredibly exciting and full of emotion. Beginning last Wednesday, the National Council on Science and the Environment (NCSE) brought together scientists, government officials, politicians, and the general public to discuss Climate Change: Science and Solutions. Many of us at the conference experienced strong emotions of anxiety, and even despair as we saw that the negative impacts of our carbon emissions and deforestation clearly overshadow the solutions to climate change (or "climate disruption", as John Holdren accurately described it).

It's not that we don't have solutions, it's that they require societal and cultural change on a massive scale. Sure, many changes such as improving energy efficiency are win-win actions, or "low hanging fruit". But to minimize the negative effects of climate disruption, we really need to create drastic changes to the way we produce food, manage forests, travel, and use energy.

Up until now, we have not had to pay for the pollution we emit and the natural resources we destroy - so we have been paying artificially low prices for all the wood, paper, water, and gas we use. But since we haven't been paying the REAL costs, we have been building up debt, and now we are in the hole (much like the U.S.'s national debt.)

But the depressing story of our ecological debt is not the full story. Monday was Martin Luther King Day - a day to honor and recognize the power and success of the social justice movement and all those who dedicate their lives to create positive change. MLK and the civil rights movement have made incredible progress by inspiring America to stand up for justice. The movement gave power to a beautiful component to American culture: that of tolerance, appreciation of diversity, and love of justice. It is on these same principles, and with a similar momentum, that we can transform our culture away from blind consumerism and toward socially and environmentally responsible lifestyles.

Start now by transforming your personal, political, and business life. Adopt a new habit every month, take a day to meet with your local, state, and or US representative to tell them what they need to be doing for you (ie. improving mass transit, taxing/regulating coal to subsidize clean energy, protecting forests, the environment, and American jobs through fair trade regulations.) And finally, take a lead at work by making sure your office and/or business has good practices - from recycling and being energy efficient to collaborating with other businesses on how to be environmentally and socially responsible in your field.
Let's create a happy ending to this story.

What are the most impactful actions you can take this year?