Educate to Change, Act to Sustain
about the author
Chloe Maxmin, a freshwoman at Harvard College, is the founder and president of the Climate Action Club (CAC) (http://laclimateaction.webs.com) and First Here, Then Everywhere (www.firstheretheneverywhere.org). She views her life’s mission as making the climate crisis the defining issue of her generation.
Paper or plastic? We hear this question all the time. But how do we know which one to choose?
Well, the paper bag is easy to recycle. I can use it to start a fire in my wood stove. It comes from a renewable resource, and it won’t leach toxic chemicals into the environment as it biodegrades. It won’t even take that long to biodegrade. But how do I know all this? Someone educated me.
There is an alarming lack of environmental education and awareness in the United States–especially surrounding climate change. Schools have not placed enough emphasis on environmental issues. People don’t know how to make a difference and do their part to mitigate climate change, reduce pollution, and help the planet. Without education, people will not understand why change is necessary. They will stick to the status quo. A mass movement will not arise. Positive action will not be sustained.
A recent Gallup poll reveals sobering data comparing Americans’ perceptions of climate change in 1997 and 2010. Forty eight percent of Americans believed that the severity of climate change has been exaggerated in 2010, up from 31% in 1997. The number of people who think that they will never experience the effects of climate change in their lifetimes increased by 10% during that period. In 2003, 61% of American thought that climate change was caused by human activities. This number dived to 50% in 2010. Yet the number of people who thought climate change would threaten their way of life increased from 25% to 32% between 1997 and 2010.
This data reveals that people are misinformed and confused. National opinions do not reflect the mounting scientific evidence that climate change is accelerating more rapidly than anticipated, that the effects are real and happening now, and that these changes are accelerated by human activity. The failure of environmental education in our country has created a disturbing trend. Only with education can we reverse these numbers and enable the public to understand that climate change is real and urgent. Education will change behaviors and sustain action towards a better future.
In the chasm between education and action stand two individuals who are building bridges. One is Michael Pollan. The other is Bill McKibben.
Michael Pollan authored four best-selling books on the once obscure topic of healthy eating and the sustainable food movement. Before Pollan, “healthy food” and “organic” were the lexicon of an upper-crust: people who were well-off and educated. Pollan made it easy and affordable for everyone to learn about good food. His writing is captivating and personal, bringing the reader along with him as he learns about sustainable food. He shows why packaged foods are unhealthy and exposes the dangers of the industrial food system, showing how people and animals are poisoned. Pollan presents alternatives to this mass-produced glop, and his revelations empower people to make healthy choices. Now his wisdom is featured on web.md and included in many food conversations. He educates the public to help them change. As more people begin to understand the importance of healthy food, the movement is mushrooming. From urban agriculture to rural supermarkets, food is changing, and people are too.
Bill McKibben, one of my personal idols, also embraces the idea that only education leads to sustainable action. McKibben wrote one of the first books on climate change aimed at the general public. He has published eleven other books about organizing a local movement, the transition to green economies, the future of Earth’s climate, and more. McKibben’s goal is to educate his audience, both American and global, about basic environmental principles. McKibben also founded 350.org, an international organization dedicated to building a grassroots climate movement. Under McKibben’s leadership, 350 has organized 15,000 climate rallies in 189 countries. His reputation as an educator enabled 350 to become a powerful force for action.
Pollan and McKibben are two individuals who have made a difference. As educators they have inspired and mobilized. More people are beginning to understand why it’s harmful to buy genetically-modified products or drive gas-guzzlers, and they are taking action. In 2010–four years after Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma–“41% of parents report…buying more organic food…up significantly from the 31% who said they bought more organic in 2009.” Energy consumption per household has decreased substantially in recent years. Within specific sectors, change is occurring. The question is: when will climate change mitigation become a priority as well?
If two people can have this effect, imagine what could be accomplished if environmental education is approached systematically nationwide, or even globally. Through schools, public awareness campaigns, and effective communication from scientists, scholars, journalists, and even elected officials, a commitment to educate can catalyze the change that is needed.
The environmental movement is not just about interpreting scientific data, lobbying for regulations and legislation, or organizing protests. It is also about redefining how humanity interacts with this planet. We must reexamine our daily impact on the world and find solutions that enable all peoples to have a high standard of living and achieve economic prosperity while preserving the earth. At the root of this mission are individuals who understand the imperative for a healthier planet and the conviction to commit to new behaviors. It’s a two-part process. Educate to change. Act to sustain.
