Is Environmentalism Dead?
Where is environmentalism headed now that the headwinds are against us with the US making the climate worse ? One of the difficult things about losing environmental fights is that it’s easy to dwell on mistakes. Why aren’t our ideas more popular? What outcomes can we make progress on? Big victories seem out of hand, when they are most needed. Still, there are major shifts in society and culture to celebrate. Focusing on these victories can sustain us amidst the bad news.
TLDR;
Environmentalism should not recruit people through shame and guilt messages.
Environmentalism needs to think about near term wins and how our work influences daily living
Celebrating indigenous food traditions provides systems change, supporting communities and land.
One lesson is that a message of guilt is out of touch with the feeling of powerlessness in 2026. From regime change in Iran to Venezuela, people are learning that dirty energy controls their lives.Now is not the time to use guilt for personal choices about SUVs, because people feel powerless. Guilt doesn’t help to empower people. The movement needs all types who care about the planet, and there are different ways to show that care. There is a difference between participating in problematic consumption and wielding executive power to create pollution. Educate people about the political bodies that that control the waters and lands, but don’t hold them to aggressive standards.
Environmentalism should focus more on influencing society and culture. The federal government is not the only game in town. It makes sense that environmentalists focused on lobbying the federal government for conservation policies. The Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act are federal laws. However, shaping policy can often take 10-15 years of investment on the part of communities. In a time of crisis this is too much lag time.
The growth of programs that support native foods and traditional food culture are a hopeful change in society and culture. In Kuaia, the Waipa Foundation, is a non-profit farm that demonstrates deep environmental improvement. The foundation educates young people about the practices of native Hawaiian farming, such as the preparation of poi from tarot. The farm prioritizes cultural values such as Malama `Āina, caring for the land. Traditional foods like taro often prosper when nature does well too. Creating interest in these foods creates change in land, culture and economies.
Although the major rollbacks of environmental policy are daunting, there are many successes that can be seen in the shifting consumer tastes of the American public. It is wise to pay attention to these changes in case there is a way to increase their numbers.
