In my last post, we really dug into the general idea of the history and facts that surround the concepts of laws and regulations regarding the environment. Now, it is time to determine the effectiveness of it in the first place. Last blog, we highlighted upon how it is truly up to what people are motivated to do as to how effective law and regulation is. I gave the analogy that catching and punishing someone for violating the environment is like catching someone illegally using fireworks. You don’t really know where the firework or pollution is exactly coming from when you first see it, and it is too much time and effort to connect each person with the specific firework or piece of waste.
However, the idea of laws and regulations do hit an area that has quite an impact on the environment’s health…corporations. Corporations are usually under extreme pressure to adhere to regulations, versus the tougher situation of trying to manage individuals at the core. Besides their being more accountability held on corporations, there has also been economic benefits for corporations to go green. As shown in this article, in which highlights a study of the economical benefits environmental regulation brings to corporations, we start to realize how it is quite possible to manage the populations “greatest” pollutants.
However this is not the only way corporations have incentives to adhere to environmental law. Multiple methods of both positive and negative reinforcement have been developed over time. One example of positive reinforcement comes from stipends given to businesses that use environmentally friendly practices. This usually comes from government, and has been proven to effectively sway a corporations health standards in relation to the environment, since economic incentive is what ultimately drives a corporation in the first place.
However, one example of negative reinforcement would be the establishment of a carbon tax, taxing every measurable unit of carbon a corporation uses for development of products and/or services. Overall, corporations are the target that government continues to hit the bullseye on.
So how can people become more motivated, especially when the government seems to have little effect on the individual.
First off, if you have already made the conscious choice to be eco-friendly and enjoy the benefits of natural living, you are moving in the right direction. It is hard not to have the urge to help share your interest in the environment with your friends and family, and is something definitely to act upon. To “convert” someone to the mindset of going green, here are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind.
Don’t be Preachy
Nobody likes to be preached to. Instead of motivating somebody to go green by telling them all of the harm that is being done to the environment, focus on the positive side of what one person can do to make a difference.
Instead of taking a stand against something, be “for” something. Pick out one simple suggestion to give them some green momentum, and elaborate on why it’s a game-changer. Take recycling for example. Why do you recycle? Share that with them, and help them understand how easy it is to get started.
What Will They Get Out of It?
You’re selling a new world view to the uninitiated. It’s hard to have the interest or desire to change habits and opinions without first knowing what the reward will be. It’s going to be your job to point out a few benefits that your loved one will get out of going green and being more earth conscious. For many, cost savings can be enough of a motivator to get them to change their actions. Relate to your friends or family the long-term savings of simply changing out energy-sucking light bulbs in their home for CFL bulbs that are more energy and cost efficient. Or, help them understand the health benefits of walking or biking to some of their destinations instead of always driving so they can lessen their carbon footprint.
Baby Steps
Suggest some alternatives. Everyone (including you) started somewhere. Whereas some people can make a switch to a completely different set of habits all at once, most people need to make smaller steps or even one simple step at a time. Give your loved one some ideas of simple choices to make. It may be something as small and simple as changing their laundry detergent to a more natural and healthier alternative. Once they can “feel safe” about the results of some small change, they are more apt to making additional changes towards being more eco-friendly.
Be an Example
Sometimes it’s not so much verbally sharing your depth of knowledge and passion of being environmentally friendly as much as it is showing it through your lifestyle habits and activities. If you do something environmentally friendly that is a little peculiar but cool, your friends and family might just ask you about it on their own accord. That is the best time to share. Once somebody takes notice of your good example, it’s much easier and more comfortable for you to begin sharing how and why the eco-friendly lifestyle makes sense.
This is something I really hope is not taken for granted. Government can be iffy on impacting individuals, so it starts by individuals working on it from the ground up. Whether it’s experts, corporate panels or simply you popping on the computer to look up what you can do to help the environment, and be informed of your positives and/or negatives when helping it.