The words "green movement" generally conjure up a list of fairly positive ideas: environmentalism, conservation, clean energy and grassroots activism. This movement, which some say dates back to the writings of Henry David Thoreau, certainly deserves a number of such positive associations. But that doesn't mean that it hasn't come without a handful of negative consequences, as well. In "Walden," Thoreau wrote, "It appears to be a law that you cannot have a deep sympathy with both man and nature." The green movement may have lofty aims to prove Thoreau wrong, but even such admirable ambitions often come with unforeseen costs. Keep reading to learn more about five unexpected downsides of the green movement.
Perhaps a few idealistic souls once harbored illusions that the green movement would unite American politicians around the common cause of protecting the planet. But the green movement has done anything but bring politicians together. Instead, it's given them one more issue to squabble over. This has proven particularly true in today's ultrapolarized political climate.
Although the issue hasn't always split directly down party lines, Americans can usually find Democrats passionately advocating for the green movement and its causes, and Republicans opposing certain aspects of it with equal vigor. In this context, all conversation related to the green movement, climate change and environmental issues has taken on a political color. Despite scientific consensus, nothing is clear-cut in politics. To cite one example, the program Democrats refer to as "cap and trade" has become known as the "national energy tax" in Republic parlance, two names with vastly different political connotations.
The U.S. Congress hasn't yet passed a climate bill. Unfortunately, all signs indicate that the toxic and not always dignified squabbling over the environment will continue. Case in point: During a snowy February 2010, Republican Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina tweeted, "It's going to keep snowing in DC until Al Gore cries 'uncle'." It seems the green movement is just another cause of disagreement in partisan politics.
4: The Green Consumerism Myth
The green movement has given rise to a wide variety of so-called green consumer goods. These range from products as small as energy-efficient light bulbs and environmentally friendly household cleaners to items like luxury hybrid cars and spa packages at eco resorts. The concept behind green consumerism isn't fundamentally bad. Consumers often pay high premiums for items and experiences that they feel do a better job of protecting the environment. But the high-end products associated with the green movement may actually perpetuate the myth that green consumerism plays a pivotal role in reducing humans' negative impact on the environment.
Author and environmentalist Paul Hawken told The New York Times, "Green consumerism is an oxymoronic phrase." He and other environmental activists argue that the production of more luxurious green items may actually do more environmental harm than good. Often, buying a more modest, less "green" product (or not buying anything at all) would be a better choice. Our runaway consumption of goods is a big reason our environment needs saving in the first place. So the idea that consumerism is part of the solution -- and not just the problem -- to our environmental troubles is one unexpected downside of the green marketplace.
The rise of green consumerism has also created another unexpected downside to the environmental movement: the advent of false green advertising. As green products have become more popular, companies have felt increasing pressure to market their products as green, sustainable or eco-friendly. This pressure has sometimes led to misleading or, in the worst cases, downright false advertising. For example, developers of new residential buildings have marketed them as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified -- the national certification for green building -- before they've finished construction. This means that they've received certification before the buildings could even merit the designation. The Federal Trade Commission has come down on other groups for making unsubstantiated claims about the environmentally sensitive or eco-friendly nature of their products.
Consumers that view themselves as environmentally conscious will often pay a hefty premium for goods that make these sorts of sustainable or eco-friendly claims. False green advertising means that consumers are sometimes paying extra for a product that doesn't even live up to its branding.
2: Tension in the Global Community
Just as the green movement hasn't led to American politicians holding hands and singing together around a fire, the environmental movement has often increased tensions and divisions in the global community. Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said, "Climate change makes us all global citizens, we are truly all in this together." Although people often express such sentiments, the past couple of decades haven't seen unity among the nations of the world regarding climate change and environmental causes. Some countries have forged ahead and successfully implemented sustainable policies on their own initiative. But these countries often feel frustrated if other nations don't go to the same lengths and make the same sacrifices on their home turf.
The United States, in particular, has earned the ire and criticism of the international community for doing little to cut down on its greenhouse gas emissions. In 1997, the U.S. sowed the seeds for global tension when it refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement that committed countries to reduce greenhouse gases. Although China overtook the U.S. as the biggest producer of carbon dioxide in the past few years, much of the world views America as having the greatest responsibility to lead the way on climate change. And America's not living up to that expectation.
Tensions don't exist solely between the U.S. and other nations with better environmental records. There are also significant tensions between rich and poor countries. Overall, these tensions create an atmosphere that makes full global cooperation on climate change difficult.
A refinery looms in the distance in a residential neighborhood April 8, 2001, in Northern New Jersey. Pollution like this is why the Bush administration came under attack for cuts in the EPA and the pullout from the international Kyoto Protocol.
Image Credit: Spencer Platt/Newsmakers/Getty Images
1: Lack of Innovation
Perhaps the most unexpected downside of the green movement is that it's become so mainstream (and so exhaustively debated) that it's stifled energy innovation and the push to find new ways of combating climate change. The green movement has undoubtedly led to valuable benefits and positive changes. This is particularly true in terms of individuals' behavior. But the focus is sometimes placed more on the small things at an individual level, such as insulating houses, cutting back on driving and increasing energy efficiency in our personal lives. This leads some environmental experts to complain that this focus on the "low-hanging fruit" is taking away from what's really important. They argue that it keeps us from putting money and resources into the big innovations that will have a far-reaching impact on our future environment.
The experts also raise concerns about whether the financial commitment will be there to produce technological advances that will allow the U.S. and other large countries to achieve significant carbon dioxide reductions. In a strange and unexpected way, the high-profile nature of the green movement today may actually be contributing to misplaced focus or complacency. And that's making it harder to innovate in a way that will have a substantive and lasting impact on the environment.
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Davenport, Coral. "U.S. Tells the World It Will Pass Climate Bill." National Journal. Dec. 1, 2010. (Dec. 2, 2010)http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/u-s-tells-the-world-it-will-pass-climate-bill-20101201
Galbraith, Kate. "F.T.C. Sends Stern Warning On 'Biodegradable' Marketing Claims." The New York Times. June 11, 2009. (Nov. 28, 2010)http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/11/ftc-sends-stern-warning-on-biodegradable-marketing-claims/
Gates, Bill and Chad Holliday. "Energy sector poised for innovation -- with the right spark." The Washington Post. April 23, 2010. (Dec. 1, 2010)http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/22/AR2010042205126.html
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Muro, Mark. "Climate Legislation -- Narrow or Broad, It Will Still Slight Innovation." The Brookings Institution. June 28, 2010. (Dec. 1, 2010)http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2010/0628_climate_legislation_muro.aspx
Shogren, Elizabeth. "Climate Bill Languishes on Capitol Hill." National Public Radio. Nov. 24, 2010. (Nov. 29, 2010)http://www.npr.org/2010/11/24/131561154/climate-change-bill-languishes-on-capitol-hill
Vestel, Leora Broydo. "Taking Liberties with LEED." The New York Times. Feb. 19, 2009. (Nov. 28, 2010)http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/false-advertising/
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