It’s Up to You, and Me

It was a simple question: “What have you done for the environment?”

When I put the question out on Facebook, I expected the response would be underwhelming. I thought people might keep quiet if they feel they don’t do anything to help the environment, or if they do, they wouldn’t announce it publicly for fear others would judge their contribution as insignificant.

I was wrong.

Although the replies came into my inbox, the reports of individual efforts – big and small – to help save the planet restored my faith: People do care and want to do something.

Progress has been slow on the environment front, both here and around world, in the past two years, especially since the landmark Copenhagen climate change conference more than a year ago failed to result in a deal despite the presence of the world’s top leaders.

The responses to my question were a breath of fresh air in this increasingly polluted world.

Small as they may seem, these combined individual efforts may significantly help the environment, whether reducing unnecessary waste, saving water or conserving energy.

Most of the respondents practice the green mantra – reuse, reduce and recycle.

One friend goes to the trouble of sorting her trash – plastic bottles, cans and paper – to be given to trash pickers or recycled. Others make compost from their organic waste.

Recycling paper at home and the office are common activities, too.

Another friend says she always turns off the faucet when brushing her teeth.

“I also bring my own shopping bag when doing my grocery shopping. No more plastic bags,” she adds.

Many others have made their own contributions – switching off lights, buying only eco-friendly electronic devices and relying on soft copies instead of printing documents.

Another friend has gone the extra mile in his green efforts. Not only is he successfully composting and recycling at home but he also rides a bike more often than he drives, has set up solar panels for his water heater and applies smart metering to conserve energy. He is also a vegetarian who eats only organic produce.

“I also offset my carbon emissions when traveling by paying a credible carbon offset credit program that channels the investment into a renewable energy – not by planting trees,” he says.

Such awareness and action is not the sole domain of regular members of the public. Rather, it has become the popular lifestyle of public figures and celebrities, from local popular author Ayu Utami, who once told a women’s magazine that she opted for used timber for the door and window frames of the garden-style home, to Hollywood actors Edward Norton, who is the UN Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity, and Leonardo DiCaprio, who recently committed US$1 million for tiger conservation efforts.

Many companies have backed green practices, introducing hybrid cars, alternative energy sources and environmentally friendly technologies into the market.

Just recently, an eco-mileage credit card was launched in South Korea offering green credits for customers. Those who use the card get discounts when buying hybrid cars or eco-friendly appliances in return for conserving electricity and water, or they get bonus points if, for instance, they buy a carbon-free detergent or collect used batteries.

I’m pretty sure there are many more such acts of green taking place, whether done by individuals, groups or businesses.

Countless groups have launched all sorts of programs to help address waste problems, pollution, forest degradation, climate change impacts and more.

Unfortunately, governments appear to be the last ones to realize, or even understand, that people do care about the environment they live in – for the sake of future generations.

It’s hard to picture our children, or grandchildren, having to go to war over water or other natural resources, migrate to another country to escape the encroaching waters or deserts, or being wiped out by disease.

Ironically, we do actually have all the laws and regulations needed to protect and preserve the environment.

Too often, though, despite the example of my FB friends, the green lifestyle is still just hype – something that gets attention in the lead-up to Environment Day, when the government is handing out Kalpataru environment awards and officials are busy planting thousands, even millions, of trees – only to leave some of them to die, while they chop down the old trees.

On any other day, it’s business as usual for many of us. It’s common to see people dumping trash irresponsibly – who hasn’t seen trash tossed out of the window of a luxury car onto the street? And then when floods disrupt Jakarta or any other big city, the blame game begins.

Every year, we read reports of forest fires, and yet another blame game begins.

Out there, at government offices, precious energy is wasted on a daily basis – the lights are left on and the air conditioners create arctic-like conditions here in the tropics.

The situation will probably continue until we’re hit by rotating blackouts again – when power generators give up working or simply run out of expensive fuel. Only then will the call to save energy win followers. The enthusiasm will last until the crisis is over, when it will be back to the old routine.

The big question is, when will we free ourselves from this self-destructive routine? When is the government going to learn? And how long do we have to wait until something is really done?

As for me, what have I done for the environment? I am busy spreading the message that we do care about our environment and we want something done to protect it. + Stevie Emilia

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