A young woman's perspective on ecology
My small steps towards ecology
One of my first memories of the word "ecology" was when I asked my parents for "pomme potes" (individual plastic compotes), but my father refused, claiming they weren't "ecological". I felt frustrated that I wasn't getting what I wanted, but this experience made me realise that a larger container of compote was a possible option.
What does being ecological actually mean?
Quite simply, it means caring about our future on earth and preserving biodiversity. In fact, I think it's a very natural and normal idea ...
Different cultural approaches to ecology
Educated in an international high school, in 2016 I had the opportunity to take part in a youth dialogue on the environment via Skype with UNITAR (United Nations Institute for Training and Research). We exchanged ideas and solutions on climate change with students from Nabbingo, Uganda. I quickly realised that Ugandan students were more involved in practical ways because they were directly affected by climate change: our approaches differed according to our level of development. Climate change affects poorer countries more than richer ones.
Bike parking Amsterdam/ Source: myparkingsign
I lived in the Netherlands for a year, where people use bicycles as a natural medium of transport. In the Netherlands, many people are vegetarian. Among young people, ecology was a central topic of discussion, whilst in France people interested in ecology are more categorised as marginal.
In France, the term 'ecologist' is associated with a rather left-wing political stance, although it concerns everyone. It's a shame that ecology isn't 'popular': the majority of the Green voters are professionals, not working-class people or farmers. Which proves that ecology is often pushed aside from other issues. Especially as those who are more environmentally committed are generally citizens, not politicians.
Between individual guilt and collective action: limits of the individual approach
At first, I was mainly drawn to smaller actions taken on a daily basis: reducing waste, using the bicycle rather than the car, I stopped eating meat for a year and now I eat less of it. I've challenged ‘fast fashion’: before, I sometimes bought clothes for my own pleasure, then I discovered second-hand clothes shops and I reduced my overall consumption, because I wasn't growing any more... All these actions reduce our carbon footprint. Nevertheless, making people feel guilty about their lifestyles will not fix the system as a whole. But I think we're on the right side of history if we are mindful of the problem and don't ignore it...
In my view, the individual pursuit of 'ecological perfection' is also harmful, and there's no use in blaming people, but rather in discussing and changing matters at our own level. It's difficult to find the right way to talk about ecology, and sometimes it feels like we're lecturing others.
Being a member of the Scouts movement in Switzerland from the age of 9 to 17, I learnt to respect my environment and nature by living amongst it. When we go camping and build objects out of wood, we use nature directly and see its benefits, as well as feeling the power of community. We live in harmony with it, not apart from it. I also consider community living an essential aspect of ecology.
Eco-anxiety and the quest for purpose
As a sensitive person, I've felt eco-anxiety and apprehension about the future for a long time. Headlines and IPCC reports can be frightening. I've felt powerless, out of control, a bit depressed and hopeless. Sometimes it's tempting to skip the articles and just read the headlines because the news is shocking.
At times it strikes me as unfair that previous generations, when they were young, didn't worry about this issue, whereas now it's at the heart of the issues. It's a burden that I'm going to have to bear for the rest of my life, and my life would be easier without it.
My ecological awareness has been heightened in recent years, mainly out of a love of nature and biodiversity. I love hiking, discovering natural areas and I feel at ease surrounded by greenery. I acknowledge that if you've never had any positive contact with nature it's harder to feel concerned.
I find it very difficult to project long-term goals. There's a lot of uncertainty about the job market. Technological advances are moving forward so quickly with artificial intelligence that many conventional jobs are under threat. I think it's essential to find a job that's in harmony with my values and doesn't adversely affect the environment.
Source: ANNA WANDA GOGUSEY, Le monde
In the workplace, many young people also feel a loss of meaning and direction. This is very visible on social media. We don't want to sacrifice our mental health for work or face a burnout. Work is not seen as an end in itself, but rather as a means to an end. It is not necessarily where we find fulfillment. On social media, videos showing people giving up everything to live on a farm, developing their own cultivation or living in a caravan while travelling the world are widespread and inspiring. There are also examples of people changing carreers, like switching from from engineering to carpentry, for a more manual job that would be more meaningful. By giving up a job in a large firm and becoming self-employed, some people feel more aligned with their values.
A concern for social issues
The scale of problems resulting from climate change is huge, and I often find that the issues appear derisory. What pains me the most is that environment-related issues are inextricably entwined with social inequalities, which are likely to worsen considerably with the emergence of climate migration.
Reading figures like these:
At a global level (in terms of individuals), the top 1% of emitters each had a carbon footprint of more than 50 tonnes of CO2 in 2021, 1,000 times more than the bottom 1% of emitters. The top 10% of emitters were accountable for almost half of the world's energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021, as opposed to only 0.2% for the bottom 10% of emitters.
These figures prove that a high carbon footprint is closely correlated with the comfort of a few individuals.
One can only ponder:
Why bother with the everyday gestures if they have no impact on a worldwide scale?
What's the point of not taking a plane if private jets are taking off every day? The solution to many problems lies in the regulations - it's the only way to make large-scale changes.
So, what can we do ?
For those who have the privilege and the time to read articles on climate change, it's worth discussing it with those around you and changing your consumption. However, I believe that collective action, often by citizens, has a much greater impact (even if I'm not one of them). Many associations are fighting for change.
For example, after thirteen years of resistance from nature protection associations for the Roybon woods, the Pierre & Vacances group abandoned the Center Parc project in July 2020.
Roybon, life in the woods. Source: reporterre
To sum up, Einstein's quote "those who have the privilege of knowing have the duty to act" sums up the climate change situation very well. But I am well aware that we are all caught up in contradictions in our daily lives, since we all pollute to varying degrees and everything is interconnected.
For more information
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