It seems that here in the United States, we’re getting hit with green from all sides. These days, we hear green murmurs in international conferences, from the federal government, in the media, and through advertising which all trickle down into the general population. Nearly 60% of people who pick up a newspaper and magazine find themselves reading a green article. And over 30% of consumers go into stores and realize that they are now buying more green products. How has all this green snuck into our lives?Why Go Green?
Eco friendly, green, sustainable, environmentally responsible… how many different ways are there to refer to what’s good for the earth? These terms as well as others are used to define legislation, standards, and regulations that promote a healthy planet.
Perhaps one of the driving factors why people are going green began with the first signs of changes in climate. Prolonged droughts in Asia, cold waves in Russia, and heat waves in the US are just some of the effects that were hard to ignore.
These abnormal temperatures began to directly affect the population as extremely high temperatures would, at times, trigger fatal cardiovascular or respiratory attacks, particularly among the elderly. They also correlated to the steady increase of aeroallergen levels. Health conditions, like asthma and allergies, are growing more and more popular, not to mention the spike in children’s health issues like autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Perhaps these growing health problems forced people to wonder if there’s a greater issue at hand.
Maybe people began to notice that it was becoming easier and easier to burn in the sun with shorter and shorter exposure time. As human activities add greater amounts of emissions into the atmosphere, the gases compromise the protective cover of the ozone layer, resulting in increased exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Organizations Supporting Going Green
There are an immense number of non-profit and for-profit organizations these days that have come together for the sole purpose of helping the environment. Greenpeace, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and the Sierra Club are just a few.
In addition, the federal government, through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has doubled its efforts of making people aware about the importance of going green. It has intensified its “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle” campaign broadcasting this important information to the public. It has created ENERGY STAR to promote energy efficiency. And it has created numerous regulations from USDA Organic to chemical bans to improve public health.
The Economic Development Administration (EDA) has also been fostering environmental sustainability. Utilizing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the EDA leveraged $27 million to support green jobs and green businesses.
On the international level, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has been fighting global warming since its conception in 1992. It has been a key organization to promote sustainable development and reduce greenhouse gases globally.
Is going green just hype? Perhaps it’s merely a trend that will fade once there’s something new to focus on. Yet, over 90% of US consumers say they’re in, they’ll choose green products instead of other choices. Even if there’s no way to quantify the impact of one person’s personal actions, perhaps we just have to act as if what we do really does matter, to the world, to our children’s future or maybe just to our optimism that allows us to hold onto the idea that you can make a difference.
