Good values and money

The problem with climate change is that it affects everyone. This means that each of us can justify to ourselves that there is nothing we can do about it as individuals, and therefore doing nothing is acceptable.

But deep down we know it isn’t, so we make excuses to ourselves as to why we can’t take action. These often relate to money. Solar energy? It’s too expensive to install the technology. Rechargeable batteries… They’re not as good are they? Locally sourced food in the café? Customers won’t pay the extra price… etc. Fortunately, organisations such as Julie’s Bicycle (p5) and the Theatres Trust (p7) are there to jolt us out of our ‘let-other-organisations-with-more-money-do-something-about-it’ mentality, by flagging up the financial sense it makes to take environmental sustainability seriously. But equally fortunately, commentators such as Nadine Andrews (p8) are there to remind us that ‘doing something’ for financial reasons is a far cry from holding the values that will ensure pro-environmental behaviour is sustained. Her research suggests that quite a few of us in the arts hold those values, so if we’re not acting on them, we really should be feeling ashamed of ourselves. The case studies in this week’s magazine (p6) and online (see p16) give glowing examples of those who are doing something. It’s time now for us all to follow their lead.