Growth as a "Religion" and impact on Climate

In reading a number of books, both fiction and non-fiction, I begin to wonder at contemporary humans need for growth.

One definition for Religion is: a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance. "consumerism is the new religion" This is the definition I refer to. Not as the belief in a supreme being, but as a common belief that humans hold onto without evidence. We in rich and middle income countries now belief growth; economic, material and spiritual, is inherently a good thing.

  

Just as there was a time before many religions (BC for Christians, mid-1800s for Mormons, etc), there was a time, for thousands of years, where "growth" wasn't a priority. From ancient time onwards through the middle ages until the industrial revolution, the vast majority of people were born into a farming or herding life. And there they stayed, muddling through.

Money, rising incomes and leisure came out of the Industrial Revolution. And it helped mankind move into a prosperous and more comfortable era.

For the most part, growth has improved the condition of man. And now growth is good, is a basic given truth.

A company's desire to grow the business is just "the way it is". We even talk about the mom and pop shop who don't sell because they are happy with the income, as being weird or stupid. They can make so much more if only they: raised prices, opened a new location, advertised more, something. The couple might be happy but others look at them as stupid or backward (or, best case, not motivated).

But, here's the thing. Maybe we don't need as much growth now. Maybe our 60 inch TVs, 10 streaming choices and 2015 car can cut it another year. But companies can't go flat year over year, or their cost of financing goes up. So companies are locked into a cycle now of upselling. OR finding new markets. And most companies are definitely funding climate skeptics in order to stop legislation that forces change onto them.. 

However, to stop climate change, we need to slow growth. Or redirect it. We are destroying the planet to give everyone a new phone every few years. To change their wardrobe every few years. To fly and see new places every year.

So how do we move from this position. We change the meaning of growth. Let's look at the need for Climate Change policies. What works and what doesn't.

Doesn't work:

• Telling people to use less energy
• Telling people to move away from beef
• Telling people to drive less
• Basically telling people what to do, what to expect and to grow slower.

Does work:

• Create more energy using solar, wind and water. And lowering the cost of these.
• Creating new beef alternatives than you can, but don't have to, use
• Realizing that more efficient cars will cost less in gasoline. AND make you cooler (think Tesla or the MustangE).
• Recycling what you use (which may be hopeless, but it let's people contribute to a solution).
• Having the "latest" car / house / dinner for status means going greener. Electric cars, energy saving homes etc.

I don't think that, in our current mindsets, trying to stop, or even significantly slow, growth is going to work. Modern humans assume growth is good, full stop. So we need to make climate change about growth. Where buying more efficient items, that impact the climate less, becomes cool. 

Ed did something similar to me. I love to buy things, and I hate saving. So, in order to make our lives less confrontational, he directed my spending towards buying stocks. I was still happy buying things, and he was pleased I was saving money somehow.

Braying maximalist climate shamers  - those who give up everything in the name of being a "better' person (implied "better than you") are a pain in the ass and don't accomplish moving people's mind's and helping the environment.

Similarly, people who look around and say, "nothing's wrong" , don't change minds  or help the environment.

Smart people are beginning to change how they define happy and growth. Support those changes when you can, quietly but sincerely. The stick will not work, let's all help reinforce each other with a carrot of acceptance.