Open AccessIn response
Author(s) -
Lyle K. Grant
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the behavior analyst
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2196-8918
pISSN - 0738-6729
DOI - 10.1007/bf03392256
Subject(s) - sustainability , climate change , work (physics) , consumption (sociology) , economics , inertia , environmental economics , economic system , sociology , ecology , social science , engineering , mechanical engineering , physics , classical mechanics , biology
The problem of climate change is analyzed as a manifestation of economic growth, and the steady-state economy of ecological economics is proposed as a system-wide solution. Four classes of more specific solutions are described. In the absence of analysis, cultural inertia will bias solutions in favor of green consumption as a generalized solution strategy. By itself, green consumption is a flawed solution to climate change because it perpetuates or even accelerates economic growth that is incompatible with a sustainable culture. Addressing climate change requires an integration of regulatory, energy efficiency, skill-based, and dissemination solutions. Behavioral scientists are encouraged to work with others in ecological economics and other social sciences who recognize cultural reinvention as a means of achieving sustainability.