Student Post: In Support of a Green Economy

The Center for Community Innovation at the University of California Berkeley describes the four basic sectors of a green economy as renewable energy, green building and energy efficient technology, energy-efficient infrastructure and transportation, and recycling and waste-to-energy.  Changing to a green economy would change the way we live in many ways but would not require us to live in an austere or uncomfortable way.  A green economy has the potential to save not only the planet, but the economy as well.  The Green Economy Group defines a green economy as “a sustainable economy and society . . . where all energy is derived from renewable resources” and “rigorously applies the triple bottom line of people, planet and profits.”  

 Sounds great, right? Achieving this will require a change in our thinking, in our priorities, and our behavior.  However, clearly the way we’ve been doing things for the last decade is not working.  As a country we have more debt than I even know how to comprehend, jobs are difficult to come by, and the morale of the country in general is gloomy at best.  Shifting towards a green economy would require significant investment in new infrastructures and technologies to put the new energy goals into place.  Jobs would be created, at the same time that some jobs in industries no longer favored may cease to exist.  New industries would give us the opportunity to rethink how we work, how employees are treated, companies structured, etc. There would need to be major changes in laws and regulations at the federal, state, and local levels.  Investing in new industries, new infrastructures, and a new way of life also has the potential to improve the standard and quality of living for us all. 

The United States has taken steps toward a greener economy, but in recent decades has fallen behind many European and Asian countries in sustainable energy development. There have been stops and starts along the way but the time has come to stop dipping our toe in the pool and jump right in.  At this point I do not believe you would find too many people who would argue that there is no credible scientific evidence that our reliance on fossil fuels and culture of consumption is swiftly and seriously damaging the planet and putting the health of ourselves and future generations at risk. Addressing the problems created by dependence on fossil fuels and shifting towards a greener economy will require a combination of capitalist innovation and governmental regulation and investment in a new infrastructure. Focusing on creating a green economy has the potential to revitalize what now seems like a nation in decline. Preservation of the planet should not be a political debate but a shared goal of protecting our future and restoring the United States as a world leader in innovation, technology, and concern for public welfare.