Like many other people, intro to environmental studies has made me dramatically question my core beliefs. One of the hardest things for me to come to terms with was the idea that multiple, contradicting truths can exist in one debate. One example of this used in class was the energy efficiency of purchasing the New Zealand Apple versus purchasing an apple grown locally in Britain. According to The Villager,“Another study found that cold storage of British apples produced more carbon dioxide than shipping New Zealand apples by sea to London”(Bailey 2008). Because apples grow so efficiently in New Zealand, some people argue that although the shipping costs are higher than those of a locally grown apple, it is ultimately more environmentally friendly to buy the New Zealand apple. In class, we talked about how other people believe that buying the locally grown apple has less of a negative impact on the environment than the New Zealand apple, and that both arguments are valid. This realization has served to both increase the complexity of my thoughts about the field of environmental studies, as well as frustrate and confuse me.
My parents do everything they can on a local level to reduce their carbon footprint and live healthy lives. In this class we discussed whether individual action taken by community members can truly reduce one’s carbon footprint. Coming from a very environmentally conscious family, I found learning about the rebound effect to be very thought provoking and concerning. In an article from The Breakthrough, “Rebound occurs when individuals and firms increase energy use as a result of cost savings from efficiency gains”(Staff 2013). I am starting to recognize this phenomena in my own life, and within my own family. For example, now that we have an electric car, my family will often take two cars when it is more convenient, instead of just taking one and saving gas despite increased time needed to shuttle family members to different locations. I now realize how much comfort using options presented by the market as energy efficient provided me. I used to question whether products marketed as “energy efficient” were really as beneficial to the planet as advertized, and I will still choose the most energy efficient option. However, now I understand that much greater regulations and measures need to be taken to decrease CO2 emissions.
This course has continuously made me question whether I want to major in environmental studies, and what my impact in the field could possibly be. I gave me insight into how many seemingly endless pieces there are to consider when trying to improve how the world’s societies interact with the global ecosystems. At first I was extremely frustrated by that. Now, I think it’s a point for optimism. As a primarily artistic-brained person, I wasn’t sure how my particular set of skills could fit into the science-dominated field of environmental studies. I now hold a deeper understanding of how many disciplines connect to environmental studies, and how I can incorporate my own personal strengths into my experience in the field of environmental studies.
Bailey, Ronald. 2008. “How eating New Zealand apples can save the planet” Accessed Apr. 4th. http://thevillager.com/villager_290/talkingpoint.html
Breakthrough Staff. 2013. “Amory Lovins’ Efficiency Fantasy: Why Rocky Mountain Institute’s Energy Solutions Don’t Add Up” Accessed Apr. 4th https://thebreakthrough.org/index.php/programs/energy-and-climate/reinventing-fire-and-the-dream-of-efficiency