Alan Crain
10/27/2023 9:47 AM
The more I read, listen and learn, the more I come to appreciate that the most critical component of reducing our impact on the planet is "less is better". Less buying and consumption of everything reduces carbon output. Eating less meat, but even just eating lower total calories from all sources, requires less energy for production. Buying less stuff, holding onto things for longer (like not upgrading to the latest phone every year), driving fewer miles (regardless of whether in an electric car or gas powered car) all help reduce our impact. For sure sustainable choices are better than unsustainable ones, but the real opportunity is to look at every choice and keep working on ways to reduce our impact. This exercise was a good learning experience and reminder of how challenging this really is to reduce our impact on the planet. To quote Yvonne Chouinard (founder of Patagonia and pioneer in sustainability), "To live the examined life is a pain in the butt!"
-
Alan Crain 10/28/2023 3:31 PMI probably didn't end that post correctly to properly convey both my and Chouinard's sentiment. It wasn't that it's a pain to lead the examined life, it's that one can always learn more and needs to embrace change. Any form of continuous process improvement takes constant vigilance and effort. For me personally on this journey, having been raised by conservationists and taught to care for the environment and reduce my impact from a young age, I'm still astounded that there is so much more that I can do. That was what I was trying to share in my post. -
Jeanne Poirier 10/27/2023 7:25 PMNot sure I agree with Chouinard. There's adventure in change and wondering what's "most right." My friend and team-mate Sue Kane has a great one - being a "reduce-atarion". :)