Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
elect those representatives who will do the most to seek the necessary changes.
There are, of course, many more direct actions that individuals can take.
Individual choice plays an essential role in the decision-making process of
manufacturers and retailers. The consumer decision to demand free-range
eggs, for example, played an important role in changing the behaviour of egg
producers. That said, individual action must only be seen as the first step
towards industry reform as, in many markets, individuals are not the only, or
even the major, purchaser of the final product. Eggs are purchased wholesale
by bakers and food manufacturers as well and it is unlikely that they will
demand improvements in the treatment of chickens if the result is an increase
in their costs. Consumer demand can begin the process of industry reform but
it is likely that legislation will be required to complete the process.
In addition to considering social and environmental factors when
making purchasing decisions, individuals can also effect significant change
by rethinking their lifestyles more generally, particularly by rethinking the
significance they attach to the pursuit of high levels of income and con-
sumption expenditure.
In broad terms, national product, as measured by GDP, is equal to the
sum of all incomes earned in Australia. If individuals worked fewer hours in
order to spend more time with family and friends, or participating in artis-
tic, sporting or community activities instead of simply pursuing higher
incomes, then the rate of growth of GDP will fall. As discussed above, nearly
a quarter of adult Australians have opted for lower incomes as a way to
improve their quality of life in the last 10 years (Hamilton & Mail 2003). If,
for example, more Australians chose to forgo higher income by substituting
increased leisure time for longer work hours then the environmental benefits
would be substantial. Similarly, if people with full-time jobs elect to reduce
their hours or weeks of work rather than pursue higher incomes, then there
would be increased work opportunities for those who are seeking additional
hours of work.
Conclusion
The argument here is that we should go beyond growth and focus our per-
sonal attention and public policies on those aspects of life that do, in fact,
contribute to our well-being. In a wealthy country such as Australia, the
pursuit of high rates of economic growth can be put to one side. Such a
change would mean that working life, the natural environment and the
public sector would no longer be sacrificed in order to push up the rate of
