I have been surrounded by climate change discussions, and greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, and reduction strategies galore, for a few years now. To the group of people that make up the professional realm of climate science, resource management, and solution development, I feel like only a spectator, but once you consider the idea that planners really focus more on the future, and not the present, with their work, you start to see the connections possible when climate science and planning colliding and combining forces.
Planners give selflessly when develop long range planning documents. Most professionals will have moved on to another position, another career, or may not even live to see the effects of their work. Place making, creating environments, through words, being the bad guy and having to tell people the great dream that they have imagined, is not possible, due to zoning, which, the planner (yourself, or "the guy before you" developed). However, being able to envision what can be, and attempting to set up the "mainframe" for the development of the future successful community, is a gift.
When I was introduced to greenhouse gases, climate change, and ppm, I was over my head, but after hearing about it, reading about it, hearing about it again, and reading about it about 200 times over, I started to develop an understanding of what planning and I could truly do with my knowledge and abilities for this area of focus. I developed an understanding of how this data, scientific articles, numbers, graphs and descriptions actually pertained to the every day person, and how the every day person in America contributes to it. I also have come to a point in which I think there are things that can be done to alter the future choices and decesions we all make. The real battle at hnad is can we do enough, soon enough, and how. I think there has been enough discussion, debate, and you should do this or that and it will solve it all talk... its time to buckle down and do it, for yourself, your neighbor, your community, health, well-being, and future generations, lead by example people, professionally, but also personally.
Yes there are many contributions that large corporations, cities, states, and the nation need to take, and are able to take, that you and I could not accomplish, nor would amount to the difference we can make. However, you + I + your neighbor, best friend, sister, and the chain of people they are all attached to, can be more respectful and concise of what we do and how that effects the environment and everyone/thing that rely on it.
Now, back to the question at hand. Are a group of individual personal changes or professional plans capable of making really change, that will have enough effect on future development to make any amount of measurable mitigation of climate change or greenhouse gas emissions?
In short... partially. Just like there is no "solve all solution" to the oil crisis or any other over-utilized, over-demanded resource, personal and professional planning can not solve all of it. But planning for the future, just like your parents taught you about finances, is a vital part of the puzzle. And realizing that we may not be able to stop it soon enough, adaptation strategies may become increasingly important as the years go on.
As a planner I feel as though I am charged with the idea of taking technical documents, and translating them to an understandable pattern, navigating lengthy documents that drive even planners themselves crazy. Holding public hearing meetings and making sure everyone gets heard, as well as making sure the finally verdict of any decision are upheld and clearly spelled out to those it applies to.
And because of this, I will try to explain to you what it is that you could possibly do, that just might make the difference.
In reality I look at the entire environmental movement of the 21st century and see a clear step of the solution, its a as a triple answer, reduce, reuse, recycle... it isn't rocket science, as most logically answers today aren't, its simple, but yet increasingly difficult to set in motion and apply.
The most prevalent and affective step to a solution I see is that we need to focus on the R's (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) in the order they are listed, rather than backpedaling, although we seem to have mastered that as a society... professional back peddlers... but backpedaling will not work forever... if we can reduce our demand on the earth, the demand for resources, the demand to move about so much, to reduce our footprints, intake, need for things from far away that we could simply get around the corner or in our backyard, there could be a real impact. Things such as vegetables, clothes made in the US, our state, or regional neighborhood, rather than aboard. Furniture and art by local craftsman and artist not only supports the local community, but reduces the emissions used to get it to you, it didn't have to travel across oceans, or the country, and it will provide a sense of pride within you, the piece has a story, its a piece that has not been made 1,000,000 times over, it is unique, it has a story, and becomes special to you. What isn't to like about that?
Planningyour future is vital to having a postive outcome and impact, on your life and others. Taking the time to really think and consider each purchase, the life-cycle of each item, financially for yourself, as well as environmentally, has the potential to make a difference. Planning head allows to you to think about the future, act responsibly, and be aware of yourself and your habits. Education and awareness change peoples choices, their decisions, their actions. I challenge you to become part of the education and awareness of to yourself, your family, your friends and start the change you wish to see in the world.
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