I thought it was very interesting when in her article It’s Not Climate Change, It’s Everything Change, Margaret Atwood stated that our beliefs are directly influenced by the energy culture of the time. For example, in the current oil and gas energy culture, there is a culture of consumption and the idea that “I am what I buy”. The entire culture revolves around the desire to make as much money as you can as fast as you can without necessary regard to the consequences. As a result, we have sought to squeeze every little bit of oil and gas out of the earth and create a global market that has become dependent on oil and gas as our primary source of energy. However my question is what came first: the oil and gas energy culture or the culture of consumption? Did the oil and gas culture bring about the culture of consumption or vice versa?
It is these questions that determine the necessary steps required to bring about a more sustainable alternative to the oil and gas culture. If it were the oil and gas culture that initiated the transition to a culture of consumption, then the necessary first steps would be to lobby and bring about an end to the oil and gas industries while alternatively publicizing the importance of sustainability.
But on the other hand, if it was the culture of consumption that brought about rise of the oil and gas culture then a transition would be much more difficult. Now rather working from the top down starting with government, it is necessary to go from the bottom up starting from the populace. We will first need to change the public opinion and culture to one of sustainability in order to initiate the shift to a renewable energy culture. While one way to do so would be through education and outreach, the chances of success are slim and the battle will be difficult.
As stated in class, humans are animals of habit and have a tendency to resist change. We like to follow routine and desire consistency both in our daily habits as well as our thoughts. However, on the bright side, humans are largely heard animals and will follow the herd mentality as long as there is a leader to initiate. While in both cases the outcome is grim, there is ultimately still hope for the future to a more sustainable culture.
