Over and over again, we hear people say it is our generation that is going to have to deal with all the environmental problems in the world. Environmental conditions are getting worse (we could look at global climate change and its various impacts, environmental degradation from expanding cities and overpopulation, resource depletion and the associated waste and pollution, and the list goes on). We will be the ones affected by all these issues of increasing concern and will have to adapt to or mitigate the impacts.
But will these problems really be thrown on us all of a sudden? Most of these processes towards unsustainability are already in progress and have been for years. So why are we just realizing them now? Or at least realizing the need to do something now? It seems to be a matter of when the negative consequences actually affect us in our daily lives, or when they have culminated to reach a tipping point.
I feel like the deteriorating state of our environment is a slow process that has been underway for years, and as such, even in the next 30 years or so, we won't visibly be able to see the problems any more than we do now - we are used to slowly changing and adapting to things as they come. Is change too slow and are we at too small of a scale to realize it and respond accordingly? Looking back in time, the trends and worsening conditions are more evident because we can assess changes from one year to the next or after 10 years. But we are caught in them at the moment so it is harder to realize the severity of problems until we step outside to see the bigger picture.
I think of the example of rising gas prices. I have been aware for years of the rising price of gas, but it happens relatively slowly that the actual implications do not sink in as I see the price climb a few cents every week or so. Looking back, however, I remember when I was younger seeing gas being consistently between 60 and 70 cents per litre. So it is much easier to see changes over a longer period of time, whereas on a small scale, we may complain a bit at first but it seems easy to overlook the real problems and adapt accordingly.
Nevertheless, whether these impacts to our environment are just beginning to occur now, have been occurring for years, are becoming worse, or are improving, it is never too late to take action. And our actions should not just be adapting to changing conditions, for better or worse, nor should they be mitigating future negative impacts, but instead we should look towards reversing our current trends towards unsustainable conditions and seek positive contributions to sustainability both now and for future generations.
But will these problems really be thrown on us all of a sudden? Most of these processes towards unsustainability are already in progress and have been for years. So why are we just realizing them now? Or at least realizing the need to do something now? It seems to be a matter of when the negative consequences actually affect us in our daily lives, or when they have culminated to reach a tipping point.
I feel like the deteriorating state of our environment is a slow process that has been underway for years, and as such, even in the next 30 years or so, we won't visibly be able to see the problems any more than we do now - we are used to slowly changing and adapting to things as they come. Is change too slow and are we at too small of a scale to realize it and respond accordingly? Looking back in time, the trends and worsening conditions are more evident because we can assess changes from one year to the next or after 10 years. But we are caught in them at the moment so it is harder to realize the severity of problems until we step outside to see the bigger picture.
I think of the example of rising gas prices. I have been aware for years of the rising price of gas, but it happens relatively slowly that the actual implications do not sink in as I see the price climb a few cents every week or so. Looking back, however, I remember when I was younger seeing gas being consistently between 60 and 70 cents per litre. So it is much easier to see changes over a longer period of time, whereas on a small scale, we may complain a bit at first but it seems easy to overlook the real problems and adapt accordingly.
Nevertheless, whether these impacts to our environment are just beginning to occur now, have been occurring for years, are becoming worse, or are improving, it is never too late to take action. And our actions should not just be adapting to changing conditions, for better or worse, nor should they be mitigating future negative impacts, but instead we should look towards reversing our current trends towards unsustainable conditions and seek positive contributions to sustainability both now and for future generations.