Global warming and "personal responsibility"

My last post referred indirectly to a recent trend in the response to global warming, the marketing of products that will help you fight global warming. Everything from compact florescent lights to hybrid vehicles, if you are concerned about global warming these can help. In this, marketers are reacting to global warming the same way they reacted to other environmental trends. Holes in the ozone, crisis in the electrical grid, the energy crisis, droughts, concerns about stuff in the water, concerns about stuff in the air: lets put out happy little advice books, coffee mugs, refrigerator magnets, pens, and bumperstickers telling you what you can do. Lets sell products that help you solve the problem.

The thing is, though, none of these "personal ethics" oriented tips, even if adopted by millions would even begin to address global warming. Take the big ticket item, buying a hybrid. Nowadays buying a hybrid is all about doing something about global warming. Hybrids are very popular, but suppose they became even more popular to the degree that the gas savings compared to conventional designs became significant relative to overall use. Would that mean that the overall carbon footprint for mankind was less? I doubt it. The hybrids people buy will replace some other car. Odds are good that the other car is an SUV. The gas guzzler doesn't go away. The personal responsibility for the damage to the environment is simply transfered to another in the exchange. It is like a medieval indulgence: absolution of sins with a simple purchase. And the gas not used? Well, gas is a market commodity. If there is less gas used the price will go down. The natural consequence of this would be revival of the flagging SUV market. Just because because one individual lowers their use does not mean the gas will not get used, and if it is cheaper it will be used more wastefully.

I say the above as a proud Prius owner. Why I bought a Prius, if I was aware of the futility of personal ethics will have to be the topic for another post.

- J