The Only Way to Sustainability Is by Changing Human Behaviour

After just having written about learning to learn again, I thought I might just post something about what I have learned, and what better than the conclusion, in summary, of the course? I have now spent 8 weeks looking at various aspects of sustainability, population, climate change, our use of the commons, policy etc. And as in the beginning of the course, the one big question is still: Is the world on an unsustainable path?

How has the course changed my view? Not much, I must say. I started out thinking that the main problem with managing our planet sustainably is human behaviour. We have the technology to solve most problems, we know a lot about the science behind natural processes and how to utilise them sustainably, but where we struggle is human behaviour, how we treat our world. Policy is a powerful tool that could help on the way to change our behaviour, and to some extent it does, we have seen several examples of Pigovian taxes or incentive-based policies that have helped bring about an improvement in for example air quality and water pollution remediation in most developed countries, compared to say 60 years ago. Nonetheless, it still isn't enough.

We know that we have to stop being dependent on fossil fuels. Our current carbon dioxide emissions are unsustainable, and the IPCC agrees that only immediate action will avoid the worst, no matter which prediction model you look at among the peer reviewed and accepted scenarios. We are too late to avoid an impact already, so we will have to mitigate and adapt, but to avoid the worst we have to act now.

The problem is, human behaviour is not so easily changed. We like our traditions, we look at our individual and immediate gain rather than for long-term benefits. In chapter 10.8 on Sustainability Ethics we have read that there are very few ethics, despite it being the obvious thing to do, that care for our offspring, our future generations. We tend to look at quick fixes, some of which simply make things worse, e.g. sending sulphate aerosols into the sky to deflect radiation, despite the side effects that may make things worse for us. Our decision making follows the same longing for immediate benefits. Our political systems elect government into office for a stretch of a few limited years, and in order to attract voters politicians promise whatever seems to be most popular at the moment, which usually includes a reduction in taxes or other monetary benefits for the wider population. We do want change, but we don't want to pay for it. We don't realise that we will pay for it if we continue like this, nobody else will pick up the tab for their own pollution as long as they aren't forced to do so, and the wider population will get stuck with the price to pay, disproportionally affecting the poorer population.

Money also plays a part in policy making and enforcement. The big money in energy business will continue to encourage use of fossil fuels or nuclear power, and influence policy and other governmental decisions with monetary incentives, either in direct bribery, or by contributing in some other, legal or semi-legal, way to a country's economy, leaving us with increasing carbon emissions and nuclear waste that has nowhere to go. Still, our dependency on energy and other consumption leading to pollution is something that is difficult to give up, and most people will continue to strive for this lifestyle, so what we really need is a change in behaviour to accept alternatives that may be slightly inferior at this stage. However, without more pressure from the majority of the population nothing will change anytime soon. Not until it is too late.

In conclusion, we do have the means available to avoid the worst catastrophes, but that will involve us humans learning to change our behaviour. We have to use less energy, consume less fossil-fuel-dependent goods, eat less meat, and in general, behave in a more environmentally-friendly way. It may not seem much, but every little helps. And only by starting with the little things will we convince decision-makers to enforce change in the big things. We all have to learn, we all have to change, it is too late to stay with business as usual. And I feel very tempted to end with an encouraging “let's start today”, but it will be yet another years or decades before enough of us have realised the need for change to make an impact big enough to really mitigate climate change. I am sure we will get there. We have no other choice.

Learning to Learn Again...

It has been a while since I wrote anything here... I just couldn't think of anything significant to say, I suppose. I felt my brain was on energy save, and wouldn't come up with many ideas. I decided it was due to too much routine, work, home, a series or two, bed, and then the same again the next day. Nine Inch Nails' Everyday is exactly the same comes to mind... 
So I decided I had to do something. What I really do want to do is find a university course and continue studying, learning more and new things, maybe giving my career a different outlook with additional skills... The problem is: What subject? The things I get excited about are literature, gender studies, history and philosophy, but how does that fit with working in the energy sector? So maybe something more related? But that is so scientific, how will I understand that enough to work with, with my background?
So I decided to test myself. Experiment to do: See how I would do with one of the courses I've been doing online, those MOOCs, offered online, for free, from many universities by now, and instead of just doing a bit here and there, this time I wanted to do it all, go for a certificate, do all the assignments, on time, put the pressure on by adhering to deadlines, and most of all, after such a long break: Learn how to learn again, get the brain back on receptive and processing mode. 
Today I submitted my final exam. I chose a course on sustainability, the German green heart (conditioned to some extend by German politics, granted, but the topic has always been of interest) and the fact it had an interesting-looking energy module determined the choice. It was from an American university (more of a minus, as my interests lie this side of the pond), so slightly too much US-centric (why do I need to know the percentage of hydropower in the annual US energy portfolio and not know what the UK, or the world, is doing?), but nonetheless, I feel I have learned valuable things throughout these past 8 weeks. 
I have learned that my opinion before the course was similar to what I made of the new information gained during the course, just that I have a few more facts to back it up. I have learned not to be too afraid of technical terms, although I am still frightened to death by mathematics, especially when it comes to finance and equations... I just don't get it, my brain is just not suited to the finer points of maths, I do get part of the logic, but for more details I need someone to explain it to me in a language I understand - what I have learned is that I need it very visual, abstract logic will only go so far. Anyway...
I have learned that I still think we are exploiting the planet to our own destruction.
I have learned that is takes a lot of effort, especially besides working, to get all things done. The deadlines in this course were especially tight, but still, it does take effort and discipline, and the sacrifice of many a night where I would've much rather gone with a friend for a drink, or something else, was noticeable.
I made it, and have passed, I have the points together already, even before I know the final score of the exam. So that all worked out well!! 
I have new things to think about, or rather, more arguments to back up my opinions, and have already started talking back when my man tries to convince me when I am not convinced. 
Most of all: I learned to be happy about learning again, using new information to build and rebuild my opinion, and use my brain to think again!! What will come of it I don't know yet. I will see. First, I am glad it is over, and I can have a break!! Next to learn... I will see!