djwonk

I urge you to make time to read the amazing article titled “Why Bother?” by Michael Pollan of the New York Times. He identifies global warming as a moral issue.

Global warming is a moral issue

Let me illustrate a simple thought experiment. Let’s say I need to buy some food and I have only two choices. The “bargain” option costs $7 and does $3 of environmental damage. The “green” option costs $8 and does $1 of environmental damage.

All other things equal, if I choose the “bargain” option then, on net, I would save myself $1 but cost the environment $2. For me, choosing the “bargain” option would make my conscience uneasy. I can afford $1 much better than the environment can afford the $2. For me, it is clear, the “green” option is the more moral choice.

Some people may think that the “bargain” choice is not immoral.  They may dodge the question entirely by saying, “I don’t have time to think about this” or dodge responsibility by saying, “someone else, i.e. an expert, needs to solve the environmental problem.”

Others may go further and argue that the “bargain” choice is actually more moral. Such an argument usually rests on a belief that ”the market will take care of things.”

I do not buy these arguments. Here are my rebuttals.

We have enough time for what matters

When I hear someone say “I don’t have time to…” I translate that as “that is not a priority for me.”  What you have time for is what you make time for. How you choose to allocate your time is, ultimately, the summation of many small decisions that you make.  It is a matter of your self-discipline.

Moral people strive to align their actions (i.e. how they spend their time) with their belief systems. If you believe that global warming is a substantial issue, then you should back up your beliefs by managing your time appropriately. Cut out things that matter less. You can’t do everything, so do what matters.

Have we forgotten about duty?

In certain situations the statement “Someone else, i.e. an expert, needs to solve the environmental problem,” might be true. Certain challenges require certain kinds of expertise. For example, if you live in Texas and your air conditioner breaks in July, you probably need to call an expert to fix it.

However, in the case of global warming, don’t expect to call up an expert who is going to undo the damage that your lifestyle is causing. If you think (or talk) for a few minutes, you will find things you can do. Mr. Pollan recommends planting a garden — simple yet effective.

Yes, individuals like you can take practical steps to address global warming.  Small actions of many people add up and can result in dramatic change.  Once you reach this level of awareness, you are morally obligated to strive towards doing better. It is your duty and obligation.

Markets: only part of the solution

“The market will take care of things” is a common statement. But it by no means absolves individuals of their responsibility to make environmentally aware decisions.

Let me explain my background and rationale. I studied public policy in graduate school which involved quite a bit of economics. I have entertained many perspectives and approaches to sustainability, environmentalism, government, and markets. I’ve struggled with these issues. I recognize the value of markets; they are one tool that humanity has for coordinating group action. But markets are not the only tool.

Global warming is a big problem. I’m not willing to gamble that one tool alone is going to solve global warming. To be more precise about it, I’m not willing to gamble that we can identify the most important tool in advance. I would not bet that our current market, alone, is magically going to solve global warming for us. Markets are only part of the solution. We should explore several options in parallel.

Markets matter and should be used.  That said, to harness their power properly, we must understand them. Many people seem to overlook an important aspect of markets; they are not necessarily an abstract beast that seeks profit at the expense of everything else.  A market is a coordination mechanism.  What does it coordinate?  And who does the coordinating?

People drive markets

Yes, markets are driven by people, to state the obvious.  But the obvious is often forgotten. It is easy to forget, because economists love to go into more detail. They talk about the supply side and the demand side of the market. On the demand side, markets listen to the sum total of individual preferences and the amount of money consumers have to spend. On the supply side, markets listen to the cost of raw materials and labor, and factor in the efficiencies of technology.

The economists have good reason for thinking about the world this way — it is a metaphor that proves useful for their work.  (A metaphor — not necessarily reality!)

So why should you care? Some of what the market does is out of your control, especially in the short run. That’s life, no big surprise there.

It it much more interesting to talk about things you can influence.  Lucky for you, the market reflects the choices of you and your 6 billion closest friends. Don’t worry, you probably have more in common with them than you realize.

People are driven by preferences, beliefs, and individual circumstances. As your beliefs take form in your actions, the market will take note. What you decide to do, not do, buy, or not buy shapes the market. Where you choose to live and who you work for also factor in.  

You are more powerful than you think. Never forget that people like you are a big driver of the markets. Like most reasonable people, I believe that markets exist to serve humanity — not the other way around.

The more people demand responsible, sustainable products and services, the more the market will guide economic activity in that direction.

Now plant your garden

I’ve highlighted three rationalizations people use to shirk their moral responsibilities. You and I have both employed at least one of these techniques in the past, no doubt. And we’ll do it again. But hopefully we’ll be more likely to identify it when we see it and move in the right direction again.

I hope you enjoy Michael Pollan’s article.  More importantly, I hope you take his advice and do something that addresses global warming.  Planting a garden is an easy way to get started.

I hope you don’t mind that I give a little plug for CommunityGoals, a Web platform to help promote community change. It may give you some ideas of ways that you can join forces with other people to address climate change.