Baseline - My Introduction to Blogging (in 2009)

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Baseline 1: An Introduction

I've been thinking a lot about walking the walk. I do my best to make better decisions about my daily lifestyle but if I'm finding it difficult, and at times I do, and I have been studying and working in environmental policy, design, energy use, sustainability and development for almost 8 years, and if I can't walk the walk, how can I expect anyone else in society to do the same?

This blog came about after much debate with myself about what could provide actual assistance and insight into the daily questions most consumers are facing: what is happening to our planet? (if anything) and what can I do about it? What does it mean to be green? Who should I trust? How do I make better decisions? So with that, I figured maybe it might be useful to share the knowledge that I've gained in the hope that perhaps it might help someone else, or at the very least provide me with a slightly cathardic way to gather and organize my thoughts on the highly philosophical and the everyday.

So, first a bit about me. What do I know anyway? Well, I have 2 Environmental Policy degrees, essentially. Climate change and the geopolitics of energy have been my primary focus. As an undergraduate (in Ann Arbor) I studied political science, organizational theory and environmental studies, including energy systems and natural resource history. So my first degree was actually a BA in Political Science with a minor in what we called the PITE program, program in the environment. Since graduate school was always on my radar, I decided to forgo law school to attend a new MPA program offered at Columbia University, specializing in Environmental Science and Policy. The goal of the program was to train environmental policy specialists who also understand the scientific challenges we're facing, since many times, politics forgets the practicality of science in favor of well - politics. 

As an undergrad, I attended a few leadership programs, one of which asked the all important and often overlooked question: what do you care about? (as a sidenote, if you've never asked yourself this question, it might be time; you could end up finding out what you really want out of life- ok enough sidenote) As it happens it was at this particular retreat that I identified my desire to help create a society that integrates sustainable thinking into its everyday, but more than that, I want to live in a world where people respect each other and the planet and automatically participate in pro-environmental behavior the same way they would brush their teeth in the morning or buy a cup of coffee. And I've always wondered why some people really seem not to care about what they do to the planet - or think about the impact that they have - ever. 

After I left grad school, I worked for the advertising council for a short consultancy, and then worked for a carbon offset organization. A non-profit that helped businesses and invididuals invest in carbon offset opportunities, like renewable energy, reforestation or energy efficiency. (We'll get to carbon offsets one day and the challenges of the market.) Then, there was a short stint working on a campaign and a current position working for a large non-profit's new environmental business. I've also had a few interesting internships where I have been priveledged to be in the room with some facinating people, experts, entrepreneurs, politicians. And lucky enough to talk with them about issues. 

Anyway - long story short. I've been really lucky, had fantastic educational opportunities, and had the chance to have incredible discussions about these issues. But I'm just an average girl, trying to live my life. (oh and not that it matters, but I've been working since I was 12 and I put myself through school) The point is, not about what's happened to me, but that I know everyone does not get the chances that I've gotten so why shouldn't I share what I know? It would make everyone better off. Why should you have to spend the money or take on the debt that I have, for the knowledge that I've gained? It's a better use of my investment to share, and works out better for you too. Win-Win. 

So with that, I'll start by systematically going through different aspects of my life, the necessary: food, shelter, basic clothes, transportation and the extras: stuff I want but don't need, like electronics, girly indulgences, books, etc. . . and see what I have done to take better steps toward this bigger vision, and where I'm still lacking. After all, I'm only human too. Also, one big thing to remember about this exercise and pretty much anything anyone tells you about making decisions when it comes to the environment. Everything is a tradeoff. As a species humans are inherently distructive, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but is something to note. It's hard for us to wrap our heads around global issues. (One day I'll find a few articles to link to about heuristics.) And we destroy to create. Rarely do we restore. And only recently have we begun to ask ourselves how we could. So, although one environmental product or change might have a better impact on X issue, it still might not be perfect for every other issue too. Just something to keep in mind. 

Also - nothing is good or bad. An SUV is not a bad thing. But the way that we make them today doesn't necessarily provide for the best health impacts on the planet. There could be better designs integrated into it. Oil is not a bad thing. Oil brings us energy, and has supported the growth of many societies the world over. But just because it seemed to be the solution for some societies, who I might add did not know what we know today about the after impacts on the atmosphere of burning expansive quantities, does not mean it should be the only way to move forward. Again, a topic for another day. 

My final thought for today's post is that many things we make today have their issues. Our populations exponentially impact our decisions. And we need to start asking more questions about the things we buy. Like, where was this made? And what's it made out of? And how do they do that? And the reason you should care is because the planet that we're on is changing. And if you like the air to be clean, and the water you drink to be clean, and the trees you see to be green, or that you see trees at all, I ask that you start to consider it. I am.