Confronting the juggernaut of 'business-as-usual'

What will mitigate climate change is counter-intuitive, at least in the modern frame of reference.

Humans driven by powerful, and now misunderstood survival instincts have always wanted for more; more of whatever existed.

To avoid catastrophic climate change (is that even possible now?) we have to want for less; less of everything, particularly those things only available to us because of fossil fuel energy, which is mostly every component of modern life.

Although it is rather difficult to determine actual numbers, it seems a growing percentage of people acknowledge that the climate changes we are experiencing are a direct outcome of human activities.

However, while more agree with those who attribute responsibility to you and me, it seems the only place we can stand to demonstrate our concern is on the freeway of “business-as-usual” and the fossil-fuelled juggernaut just rolls right by.

Life in a private bolt-hole in which you might be largely self-sustainable might sound wonderful and be decidedly alluring, but a community of individually focused people is not what a civil society is about.

If you wish to have any impact on you community, your society or the broader wellbeing of the world, you have to a working cog in that community and a displaced individual living in your own, small sustainable world.

In the short-term a “private bolt-hole” will perform as hoped, but climate change by its nature is a global issue and so in the foreseeable future that retreat becomes, like it or not, becomes intimately implicated in whatever difficulties are consuming the community.

We cannot avoid this problem, we cannot hide from it and although it will work for a short while, we cannot outbid nature.

It was once said: “Nature always bats last”.

So what do we do?

We stand on that freeway, confront the business-as-usual juggernaut and look for alternatives that would help people understand how they can live in a way that will soften almost certain emerging difficulties and continue to live fulfilling lives.

It is unlikely that our needs are going to change much, but we can have a significant impact on our wants.

Critically, are not alone standing on that freeway and although it is not always readily apparent, others are braving the dangers rigours of putting themselves into the rapid current of progress and search for ways to slow our rush to the precipice.

Subsequently, a small group from Shepparton will be looking at a display in Melbourne on Friday (January 24) of 10-star homes in the hope of finding ideas and inspiration it can bring to Shepparton.

The homes are the work of the South East Councils ClimateChange Alliance (SECCCA), an association of eight local governments in Melbourne’s south-east formed to deliver regional responses to specific sustainability issues arising from climate change.

The SECCCA homes contrast with the “bolt-hole” idea in that they are designed and created with the specific aim of being an integral part of the community upon which they depend.