Random Post 2: Personal Views on Environmentalism as a Environmental Studies Major

 I believe that the future of our planet depends on how we reframe our approach to environmentalism—grounded in the recognition that a sustainable world must also be a world of prosperity. People will not act unless they see a clear and direct benefit to themselves. In other words, environmentalism must be a win-win: the health of the planet and the wellbeing of individuals must go hand in hand. Renewable energy is central to this vision—an energy system that doesn’t extract from the earth but rather harmonizes with it, creating energy that is abundant, clean, and accessible to all. It’s a pragmatic solution that aligns with the needs of the present without sacrificing the future.

Yet, I also recognize the challenge we face. The tragedy of environmental degradation often unfolds slowly, imperceptibly, like the concept of slow violence described by the philosopher Rob Nixon. Pollution and climate change are not always immediate or visible in their consequences. Their true impact only reveals itself after the damage has been done, after decades of seemingly minor environmental missteps have compounded into catastrophic problems. The people who suffer first, and the most, are often those who have the least power to resist. As a society, we have become conditioned to tolerate small, incremental harms—too often dismissing them because they don’t seem immediately catastrophic. But these small harms accumulate over time, eventually converging into crises that we cannot ignore. We see it in the rising sea levels, the creeping desertification, the air thickening with toxins, and the countless species being driven to extinction. In each of these cases, the slow burn of environmental destruction is not felt in real-time but emerges over the horizon, too distant for most to care about. By then, it may be too late.

What my main belief comes from, with how society will only go for environmentalism if it’s a win-win is the sheer number of more immediate concerns we face—economic inequality, political instability, social justice, health crises, wars, and the daily struggle for survival that many people face around the world. These pressing challenges often eclipse the urgent need for environmental action. When the world is on fire in so many other ways, asking people to shift focus to an issue that feels abstract or distant can seem like a luxury they can’t afford.

This is where renewable energy, when combined with practical, equitable solutions, becomes key. If we can show that adopting green technology—whether in the form of solar panels, wind farms, or energy-efficient infrastructure—creates jobs, reduces energy costs, and leads to healthier communities, then the environmental cause can shift from a moral imperative to a practical necessity. This is the win-win. It's about showing that environmental solutions aren’t just about saving the Earth—they are about improving lives, creating economic opportunities, and making the future more secure for everyone.

Environmentalism must meet people where they are. It must align with the values of economic progress, social equality, and community well-being. It is not enough to preach the necessity of saving the planet. We must also make it clear that doing so will improve our lives in tangible, real ways. Only then will environmentalism become a force that people are willing to rally behind, not as a sacrifice, but as a path to a better, more resilient world.