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and significance of
more-than-irrational
human
behaviours in
section 8.3,
but at present it is
important to note that many environmental
problems do not effectively activate the irrational
prompts to human behaviour. Returning to the
example of climate change, it appears that many
of the worst environmental effects of climate
change will be experienced by those living in the
poorer parts of the world, who have actually
contributed least to global warming. On these
terms, it is argued that without a direct, emotional
connection to the consequences of climate change,
it will remain difficult to motivate people in more
economically developed countries (who are the
main producers of greenhouse gases) to reform
their carbon-producing behaviours.
This chapter claims that in order to understand
the types of global-scale environmental changes
that are associated with the Anthropocene it is
necessary to take a closer look at the psychological
processes associated with human decision-making.
This chapter begins by exploring the ways in
which changing patterns of human behaviour
(particularly in relation to consumption practices
and lifestyle choices) are actively contributing to
the environmental transformations that have
become synonymous with the Anthropocene. The
second section
explores the different theories
that have been developed in order to explain the
ways in which humans behave in relation to the
environment. Section three moves on to consider
the policy initiatives and programmes that have
been developed in order to try to promote more
environmentally sustainable behaviour, and the
assumptions that these policies make about the
nature of human decision-making.
The final
section of this chapter
focuses on new forms of
environmental policy, which are drawing on the
insights of behavioural psychology and neuro-
science, and recognize the often-irrational basis of
human behaviour when it comes to the environ-
ment. Throughout this chapter attention is drawn
to the ways in which our, often overlooked, every-
day routines, practices and domestic habits con-
nect us to the Anthropocene in significant ways.
8.2 CHANGING PATTERNS OF
HUMAN BEHAVIOUR AND
THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSEQUENCES: FORDISM
AND THE GREAT
ACCELERATION
In a recent article exploring the historical origins
of the Anthropocene, Steffen et al (2007) introduce
the notion of the 'Great Acceleration'. According
to Steffen et al, the Great Acceleration represents
a key stage in the history of human-environment
relations, during which we see a significant increase
in the rates of human-induced environmental
change. According to Steffen et al, the Great
Acceleration started after the end of World War II
and continues to this day. While the industrial
era (1800-1945) laid the foundations for the
Anthropocene, Steffen et al assert that it is only
in the second half of the twentieth century that
the human transformation of the environment
became truly global in scale. The Great Accelera-
tion can be observed in relation to rising levels
of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which has
increased from 310ppm in 1950 to 400ppm
today (half of the increase in anthropogenic carbon
dioxide has occurred over the last 30 years) (see
Chapter 3)
, rising levels of dissolved, inorganic
nitrogen (used as agricultural fertilizers) in the
seas (see
Chapter 4)
and increases in atmos-
pheric sulphur dioxide concentrations (Steffen
et al, 2007: 618) (see
Chapter 3).
What I am most
concerned with in this chapter, however, are the
socio-economic practices and patterns of human
behaviour that have contributed to this accel-
eration.
Since the end of World War II, national
economies, particularly in more economically
developed countries, have experienced unpre-
cedented rates of change and transformation.
These changes are often described in relation to
the emergence of a Fordist economic system (see
Box 8.1)
. The adoption of Fordist economic
practices resulted in significant changes in both
the spheres of economic production and
