Is Green Just a Bubble Reflecting Western Cultural Narcissism?

My wife expressed her frustration over the way our leadership is handling the financial crisis – based on buying more stuff and then buying more stuff, as a means of reviving our economy. What ever happened to buying just what one really needs and saving the rest?

I can equate this to the Green and CleanTech Bubbles. It seems that venture capital is spending a ton of money in this industry with the idea that sometime in the future we will overcome the global warming issue. It is typical human thinking; throw money at a problem and it may go away. If that doesn’t work, throw more money.

Money does solve a lot of problems, but not all. CleanTech and its implications, its costs, its failures are here for the long haul. That is why we need a more responsive (read – less hype) and responsible approach to global warming and the going “green” fever now gripping this nation. Green is good. Saving our planet is better. Managing our perspectives and expectations is even better and may be the only area where we are doing poorly.

Within the CleanTech and Green industries there is a mad frenzy converging on an idea that technology and clever management will change simple human behavior. We talk about reducing the carbon footprint globally but instead bargain and swap carbon credits. It is almost like a stock exchange where we acquire ever increasing profit by the mere act of buying and selling. What ever happen to being socially responsible and just reduce the amount of carbon being dumped into our atmosphere? Will we create a carbon “credit” market that is more profitable then the mere act of reducing carbon emissions?

There is a lot that we as human beings need to ponder as we move into this Green Era globally. There are many questions with so few answers. Future generations can only judge our determination and sense of destiny to overcome these issues and create a better world. But to do so, we need to rise above the narcissism that plagues our planet and, like the many scandals that are currently rocking our institutions, undermines the confidence and darkens the path we have embarked upon.

It is our hope as citizens of planet earth that we are not just buying more stuff instead of conserving and being frugal with the resources entrusted to us.