Philosophy and the environment...why we should be optimistic but realistic.

Three views of the environment that results in inaction:

"Things are inevitably going to get worse."
"Things are only going to get better with an extremely radical change"
"Things will get better eventually because of market forces. Since we don't have perfect evidence, It is silly or foolhardy to try to predict or control anything."

One view of the environment that results in action:

Realistic changes in behavior can make things better"

So, which philosophy is more accurate? I believe the fourth one. I am thinking of the rapid healing of the ozone layer after legislative action worldwide to reduce flourocarbon use. http://www.ozonelayer.noaa.gov/science/basics.htm

Now,as much as I like the idea of letting markets work their magic, market forces by themselves would not have "cured" the ozone layer. Legislation was proposed, industry balked, legislation was passed, the economy adjusted, and now, in 50 years, the ozone hole mayl be healed.



I am a strong believer in "techno-fixes" in this regard. I don't think we will stop driving cars, but we will be driving better cars. And just as legislation was necessary to build the roads for the automobile infrastructure, legislation will be necessary to help with the next wave of environmentally cleaner technology.