Our last text of the ENVS-160 course: Who Rules the Earth by Paul Steinberg is centred around the idea of scaling up (Steinberg, 2015) when dealing with environmental issues and the future of sustainability. Steinberg seeks to examine the environmental problems of our time through a social-science lens, by looking at the idea of “social rules” and in turn how they drive our entire global system. He questions who rules the earth in a world where we battle and argue over the rule and control of land, minerals, resources etc. His main argument is based on the idea that we need to change the rules, through institutional action as these are the very things that guide our ideals and our behaviour towards the environment. There is a strong emphasis throughout the book that these social rules must be changed and altered to create a future in which we determine the prospect of our environment and sustainability. As somewhat of a pessimist and a doubter of the effectiveness of individual action Steinberg’s argument was particularly compelling to me and provided an alternative framework of environmental action by examining the possible influence that institutional action is capable of.
When I first began to learn about the meaning of sustainability and the ever-increasing necessity to protect our environment, it seemed the only effect I could have, was through the means of individual action. The idea that if every person was to individually turn off the lights or take showers instead of baths that the sum of these individual actions would add up to something greater now seems, having read Steinberg’s book, somewhat naive and childish.
Steinberg brings us out of our classic environmentalism revelry and brings us back to reality with statements such as “solutions that promote green consumerism and changes in personal lifestyles strike many of us as strangely out of proportion with enormous problems like climate change, urban air pollution, and the disappearance of tropical forests.” (Steinberg, 2015, page 5). This view appealed to the pessimist within me that is screaming out that, when it comes to the environment and climate change, these actions are simply not enough. Indeed Steinberg’s emphasis on institutional action is certainly something I shall carry with me throughout my academic career, as I (hopefully) pursue a degree in Environmental Studies.
The idea of institutional action, I agree, is the future of sustainability and Steinberg’s book has encouraged me that I should indeed be looking more at the possible benefits of scaling up, even though it may seem more out-of-reach or even have a seemingly less immediate effect than individual action. Indeed as Steinberg says “we need to think vertically” (Steinberg, 2015, page 163). This idea made me think about my personal view towards the European Union and whilst my overall view of the EU is not entirely positive, the thought of altering the environment through the EU seemed entirely plausible after reading Who Rules the Earth. I very much enjoyed Steinberg’s idea that “to those who worry what government rules are at best a nuisance, I suggest spending time in a place that doesn’t have them” (Steinberger, 2015, page 133). My belief in the importance of the EU and other institutions effect on climate change and sustainability has been strengthened having read Steinberg’s book. This is something that I would like to carry forward during my studies, especially when it comes to exploring sustainable solutions in my particular field of interest: natural hazards and disasters and their socio-economic impact. Institutions are imperative in preparation for and the aftermath of natural disasters and Steinberg’s argument in favour of institutional action will, I believe, be of use as I further explore this area of interest.
Works Cited
Steinberg, Paul F. 2015. Who Rules the Earth?: How Social Rules Shape Our Planet and Our Lives. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.