Different themes emerge and make themselves prominent as I continue to read Paul F. Steinberg’s Who Rules the Earth?. He covers a vast array of subjects, drawing inspiration from diverse topics, from the migration patterns of the cerulean warbler to the specifics of the emergence of cap and trade from the sulfur dioxide market, and the broader trends and misunderstandings of environmental social change. It has become apparent, though, that they all lead towards a main argument. Steinberg tries to explain individual and institutional environmental action, and educates the reader on all sides of the argument; the pros and cons of both types of action, including the effectiveness of each, the general background information on some of the current issues that we must take action on, and how we have gotten to this point.
Steinberg clearly favors the institutional-level change, or at least highlights this method as being the most effective. This has been indicated in his reviews of large institutional-scale systems, such as the implementation of markets as related to the increase of lead pollution and the utilization of cap and trade during that time. He highlights the effectiveness of organizations such as the European Union and its ability to overcome differences between diverse groups and the collective goal toward certain environmental policy development. Thinking vertically is a concept that is continually supported throughout the book, which favours throwing out the “old adage” (Steinberg 2015, 163) to think globally and act locally, since the proven effects have been too minimal and simplistic.
Yet, Steinberg still critiques how to go about making a difference institutionally. Dramatic positive changes cannot and will not be accomplished with one simple solution. As indicated in “the four ideas that will not change the world,” the path we take (even at a larger scale) must not be one-dimensional. Neither mere technology, nor growth of economic wealth, nor operation of preexisting markets, nor individual lifestyle changes alone will solve the environmental challenges we face today (Steinberg 2015, 216).
I see this as an important lesson to be learned, especially to those who hope to make a difference but are unsure of where to start or are misdirected. I know first hand that it is easy to be swayed into thinking that small lifestyle changes or “greener consumer choices” make you a better person, and that you can save the world with each plastic bottle you recycle, or each item you reuse. It can be incredibly dissuading to learn that those actions aren’t making a big difference, but as indicated in Who Rules the Earth, education and raising awareness can be a powerful first step to a larger actions and a bigger end goal.
Citation:
Steinberg, Paul F. 2015. Who Rules the Earth?: How Social Rules Shape Our Planet and Our Lives. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.