Since the publication of Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations, capitalism has become, with only the exception of a few countries, the dominant global economic system. Without a doubt capitalism works. Capitalistic strategies have helped to create some of the most profitable economies in history, albeit at an enormous cost. The implementation of these strategies has resulted in ecological, biological and social decay.
While many agree that a change is needed in how we relate to and view ourselves in relation to the environment, some have questioned how profitable these changes will be and if they can sustain the material wealth that America, as a nation, has become most accustomed. Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn held its 5th Annual Eco-Festival where an interdisciplinary panel of faculty discussed the questions that are on the minds of many American citizens — exactly what is sustainability and how are we going to get there?
In definition, sustainability is the development that makes sure the needs of the present are met without infringing upon the needs of future generations. According to the panelists, clearly stating what the word means is imperative. “If we refuse to define the term, we will not be able to achieve anything. We must reach a common consensus on what the term means,” said Dr. Stuart Schulman, the executive director for the Center for Economic and Workforce Development.
There has been much discussion about the possibility of introducing green jobs, especially in the current economic recession. However, most green jobs are just the recycling of non-green jobs. “Actually non-green jobs are possible, but for right now all we are doing “greening” jobs that already exist,” said Dr. Schulman, “Jobs can be “greened” by substituting more environmentally-safe materials and using more sustainable methods of producing goods.”
The most important element of promoting the sustainable lifestyle to the average American is to create a financial incentive. “What if we taxed gas they way many European countries do? I think more people would buy hybrid or electric cars. There has to be some kind of top-down strategy,” said Dr. Schulman, “The government has to create a financial incentive in order to encourage the public because right now eating organic or purchasing sustainable goods is more expensive than purchasing non-sustainable goods.”
According to all of the panelists, in order to make sustainability effective we have to understand the interconnectedness between ourselves, the world, and each other. “A paradigm shift has to occur. We have to change they way we think about ourselves in relation to our environment,” said Joe Terry, a philosophy professor at Kingsborough College, “We have become used to seeing ourselves outside of the ecological order.”