Convincing the American People to (Really) Go Green

 In “Going Green? Easy Doesn’t Do It,” Maniates argues that the highly commercialized green movement, which seeks to fight climate change through the simple, everyday actions of individuals, is not an effective enough strategy to make a lasting impact on climate change. I agree with Maniates’ assertion that we must rely on our politicians to create legislature to set stricter guidelines for our nation’s carbon emissions, overhaul our systems of production and work with the governments of other nations towards a global movement for environmental action. However, I also share my classmates’ concerns over the fact that while our politicians possess the power to enact real change, they will have no motivation to do so unless the American people undergo a significant change in attitudes toward the issue of climate change. According to Gallup polls, Americans are actually becoming less concerned with climate change now than they have been in the past.[1]  

The real question is: How do we change the minds of the American people? How do we draw attention to an issue that many Americans cannot even admit is a real issue? This is where I may not be so quick to demonize the commercialization of the green movement as many of my classmates are. From where I stand, while producing reusable plastic bottles and tote bags with corny environmental puns is obviously not an effective way to reduce waste in and of itself, I do agree with the concept of creating marketing strategies that equate being “environmentally friendly” with being “cool,” because if it’s the attitude of the American people that needs changing, effective marketing is probably the best way of bringing about such change in a society that is so consumer-driven. I think that what lacks then is a connection between marketing a “greener” lifestyle to change attitudes and the notion of applying the necessary political pressure required to create real change.  

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[1] Pugliese, Anita, and Julie Ray. "Fewer Americans, Europeans View Global Warming as a Threat." Gallup. 20 Apr. 2011. 17 Sept. 2011.