**6. Our ability to deny or suppress environmental threats**

*standing alongside the polluters, officially as a hulking amicus curiae (friend of the court), arguing against limitations on emissions. Is this the picture of our generation that we want to be remembered by? We live in a democracy, and policies represent our collective will. If we allow the planet to pass tipping points, it will be hard to defend our role. The state of the wild is in our hands, and we can still preserve creation and serve humanity worldwide. A drive for energy efficiency and clean energy sources will produce high-tech jobs. Restoration of clean air will be universally beneficial. Rural life and the planet can benefit from intelligent development of biofuels and renewable energy. At the front lines, observing the changes in the wild, conservationists serve as a voice for the plants and animals that have already started reacting to climate warming. To conserve as much biodiversity as we can, conserva‐ tionists must unite with many others to push for a far more radical reduction in carbon dioxide emissions than has hitherto been considered practical. Otherwise, alpine and polar species, coral reefs, and species*

In Norway, the biologist, Magnar Norderhaug (1939-2006) was well-known for his formula‐ tions in a number of books, articles and speeches about nature conservation. One formulation he used in order to wake up an audience was: *The future is no longer what it used to be*. Another formulation which was meant as a final inspiration was: *We must make the necessary possible*. The environmentalist and eminent speaker, Øystein Dahle, presented the following formula‐ tion about the need to deviate from "business as usual" on our journey into the future: *Our*

Even the graffiti genre may deliver forceful formulations. The statement: *The future is cancel‐ led* is strongly negative and illustrates that rhetoric is a weapon that can be used in many ways. A more constructive formulation is: *Good planets are hard to find.* This is true, and could motivate

**5.2. Creating hope and action with words: "If you are a part of the problem, you are a part**

This formulation illustrates constructive, sustainable thinking [9]. We are talking about "enlightened self interest": A common problem must be solved by common efforts. This requires a "precautionary ethic" about what is morally right or wrong in a long term perspec‐ tive. The *Local Agenda* perspective from Rio in 1992 placed a responsibility on all local com‐ munities through the slogan "Think globally and act locally". For instance, in Norway, several municipalities were inspired to present themselves as "environmentally friendly municipali‐ ties", and prizes were given to industry, companies, schools etc. which actively showed environmental responsibility by reducing pollution, wastes, energy consumption, etc. Some institutions were acknowledged as "environmental lighthouses": as examples for others to navigate by. Some measures are "win-win situations": for instance reducing costs by reducing energy consumption. In fact, sustainable practices could be regarded as a "public service",

On the personal level, it has been argued for "the good life" with reduced consumption, under the vision of "voluntary simplicity" [7]. This is "the responsible consumer", who practices a

*living in areas that become arid will be lost over the next century.*

*destination should not be where we are heading.*

since they serve our common future [9].

us to rescue the one we have.

146 Environmental Change and Sustainability

**of the solution"**

In his book *Collapse – How societies choose to fail or succeed,* Jared Diamond [2] shows how our choices in critical periods either saves the society, or allows it to collapse. How can, for instance, a society destroy itself by cutting down all available forest? While Japan in due time took care of a part of their limited forests on their islands, the inhabitants of Easter Island chose to cut down all their trees. This happened even though this island community depended on woody material for several purposes like fire wood, buildings and boats. After that, the society collapsed. The isle is famous for its large stone statues, which were probably of great impor‐ tance. The current hypothesis today is that different tribes competed about making the highest statue, investing great prestige in this competition. Each statue demanded much timber in order to be transported, sliding or rolling, from the quarry to its final place. What did the person think, who cut down the very last tree? Perhaps that this trunk was just what they needed for the transport of the most recent statue?

A steady course towards catastrophe has occurred in several societies throughout history. Diamond's book is important because he tries to understand how it is possible to act in a wrong way with open eyes. He presents the following six forces which may lead to so-called negative handling of crises – even after the crisis has been discovered and understood. They all have to do with the way we think.

**1.** Some are favoured by "business as usual".

Short-sighted economical interests are often the motive, like destroying tropical forests in an irreversible way, overfishing, or continuing large-scale climate-hostile production and use of fossil energy.
