A burning question about sustainability

This Monday we had class at the Hub in Rotterdam. And we got to think about a burning question about sustainability that we have been wondering.

I have been wondering why some people are more conscience about sustainable development than others. According to the neo-classic theory, everyone do things out of incentives. There must be something one can get from being environmentally friendly, while such thing does not apply to the others, or has no value to them.

So then I ask myself why I care about the environment. Actually, I don’t really know. I have always been taught in schools not to waste water, electricity, food and etc. The living standard in China back then was much lower than now. Most people were living under a budget and food and other resources were scarce. Classify trash and recycle them could earn back a few cents, which could help the family last to the next month. The government did not have as many power plants as they do now. The change was tremendous that several cities and provinces are generating too much electricity then they can consume that they have been sending their surplus to other provinces that are short on electricity. Causing waste has been seen as “unforgivable” to me since I was a kid. Now, at least in big cities like Shanghai, such scarcity no longer exists as commonly as before. My family has been better off financially, the money we can save from save water and electricity consumption or we can earn from recycling do not mean that much to us anymore, but saving energy consumption and recycling has been a habit that is difficult to change.

Another incentive that motivates me to be conscience about the environment was from the people I met. I happened to meet a few friends that I really like and care about. They have been actively engaged in environmental protection activities. Some of them are vegetarians, and some enjoy spending time with the nature. As I got to know them I also got to know their life style and what they care about. They have great influence on me, encouraged and inspired me in so many different ways. I liked the videos they shared with me about different topics on ecologic ways of living. Sometimes, when I am careless about something, for example, when I use plastic containers for take away food, I felt slightly shameful, because I could imagine them shouting at me if they were with me then. I could imagine this one particular friend being “argh!!! Bonnie, why do you use that stupid plastic box”. Now, I found myself being like that to some of my less conscience friends. I wouldn’t sound that harsh, but it has been slowly taking effect, at least on a small scale.

So, to conclude, financial incentives and peer-pressure do motivate people to be more environmentally friendly. Yet education from an early age is also vital to a better environment.