In defense of eco-hypocrisy
I have this recurring fear.
In the not too distant future, the world is on the brink of a catastrophe.
Seas are rising. Species dying. Ecosystems disappearing. And civilization is strained to breaking point.
Nestled amidst the wreckage is a small group of hippies — many of them my friends — hiding away in an off-grid yurt.
A crackly voice comes in over the hand-crank, solar radio telling them that all is finally and irrevocably lost.
“It’s not our fault”, says one, patting their friend gently and reassuringly on the back.
“True…” nods another.
“It wasn’t us who did it.”
***
Whether it’s peeing in my compost heap, taking ill-advised electric road trips or experimenting with solar hot water, I’ve spent half my life exploring and writing about green lifestyle choices. I believe sincerely that there is much value in living a little lighter on the planet.
I’m just not sure how much we should talk about it.
On 8th of October, 2018, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a landmark report which found we had just twelve years to cut global emissions nearly in half, or else the goal of keeping warming to 1.5 degrees would…
