Sustainability takes off

So Sustainability might have finally taken off. The general public seem to know about climate change, have heard something about hydrogen replacing oil and have had to suffer either an electricity shortage or water restrictions recently. Many have read about the pollution in and from China, about the destruction of ecosystems globally and problems of slums, droughts, war and all things 'Africa-related'.

What is exciting is that all of these above things, including normally 'Africa-related' problems are becoming problems for the very people creating them -us, developed world's consumers. There are campaigns and 'days' or 'years' of all kinds. Companies are launching awareness campaings, politicians are fighting to be greener than their rivals and consumers are sometimes choosing 'fair-trade' or 'organic' products -or at least have probably heard about them.

The problem with all this, is that the World is a very big place, with many people, and many problems. Most of the causes for the problems we have are large-scale, and though its good to be aware of the cause and to have a solution. Actually implenting the solution on a scale that makes a difference (and hopefully reduces the problem) is another thing altogether.

So we are short of oil or water? It's not easy or quick to find more of either. So there is too much carbon in the atmosphere? Right now we are still pumping more into the air each year, let alone reducing our emissions, or finding a way of taking out what already is in the air! Our buildings and infrastructure waste water and heat. Newer (eg. LEED certified) ones are 10 times more efficienct, but look how long it has taken (and how little success their has been) to but energy efficient lightbulbs, let alone replace our water pipes, homes and offices.

I am excited by the trend that has started and is growing exponentially. But at the same time worried, because by the time the trend and the 'noise' gets big enough it might be too late. Recently a Nobel Prize-winning scientist has drawn up an emergency plan to save the world from global warming, by altering the chemical makeup of Earth's upper atmosphere. Uh-oh