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230Article 27Reproduced from Ethics in Science and Environmental Politics (ESEP) with permission of Inter-ResearchESEP 2004:53–63www.esep.deIs Human Society in Denial Regarding the Tough QuestionsAbout Sustainability?John Cairns, Jr.Department of Biology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA.E-mail: jcairns@vt.eduABSTRACT: The news media report daily on unsustainable practices and events that impedeprogress toward sustainable use of the planet — production of greenhouse gases, biotic impoverishment,depletion of fossil waters (aquifers), human population growth, production of persistenttoxic substances, loss of agricultural topsoil and land, rapid loss of old growth forests, and so on.Exponential economic growth both depletes natural capital more rapidly than it is regeneratedand also gives an illusion of sustainable prosperity. Failure to act more expeditiously is almostcertainly due to a number of factors; however, denial that a problem exists is, arguably, one of themost likely reasons. Just as an alcoholic or drug addict must first acknowledge that a problemexists before successful treatment is possible, so must those addicted to exponential growth ona finite planet.KEY WORDS: Denial · Sustainability · Resource allocation · Depletion of natural capital · Memes ·Eco-ethicsFacts do not cease to exist just because they are ignored.Aldous HuxleyThe growth ideology is extremely attractive politically because it offers a solution to poverty withoutrequiring the moral disciplines of sharing and population control.Herman DalyI was first exposed to the dysfunctional relationship between human society and natural systemswhen Ruth Patrick became my mentor in 1948. Her goal was ‘use without abuse’ of natural systems.At that time, public awareness of environmental pollution was just beginning to increase.Leopold’s (1949) Sand County Almanac provided a superb description of how natural systemsfunctioned. Then, Carson’s (1962) Silent Spring alerted me to the probable ecological damage ofpesticides and also showed the intensity of the attacks likely to occur if the status quo were challenged.Next came Hardin’s (1968) classic ‘Tragedy of the Commons’ and subsequent publicationsusing the metaphors of lifeboats (Hardin 1974) and spaceships (Hardin 1972) to illustrate carryingcapacity (Hardin 1976). Of course, there were many others, but these caused a major paradigmshift early in my career.
Article 27231Mainstream science became much more interested in environmental science and studies, as evidencedby the first Earth Day in 1971. However, humankind still persisted in denying the extent ofthe problem. Denial is not new. Pliny the Elder stated, in the first century, that the stupid ostrichthrusts its head and neck into a bush and imagines that the entire body is concealed (Hardin 1999).Other authors have espoused a no-need-for-concern attitude — everything is fine. Simon (1981)believed in unlimited growth. Naturally, this idea has critics (e.g. Daly 2003). Recently, Lomborg (2001)has created quite a stir, especially in the financial news (positive) (e.g. Cambridge University Press 1 )and the academic journals (negative) (e.g. Union of Concerned Scientists 2 ). The Editors (Editorial 1997)of Scientific American have described some of this debate as science vs. antiscience.Another form of denial may be the possibility of the deliberate production of disinformation sothat science does not contradict political, religious, or corporate ideologies. In the 1930s, theUSSR denigrated mainstream genetics in favor of a fraudulent theory of heredity, which was congruentwith Communist ideology 3 (Sheehan 1993). A statement condemning misuse of sciencewas signed by 62 leading scientists, including 20 Nobel laureates and 19 recipients of the NationalMedal of Science. 4 Time for resolving these issues is short. A very important factor is the 50–100years available for humankind to achieve sustainability with an estimated population of 8–11 billion(Palmer et al. 2004).Although there is cause for concern, cautious optimism is also justified. For example, Brown(2003) has produced a plan at the planetary level that including restructuring the economy, stabilizingpopulation, and stabilizing climate. At subcomponent levels, the outlook is also positive:(1) studies on renewable energy (Odum & Odum 2001), (2) calls for behavior change (Green Weekevents 5 ), (3) detailed studies of a hydrogen economy on the stratosphere, which will reduce uncertainty(Tromp et al. 2003), (4) plans for global climate monitoring are being discussed by scientists,although no robust plan has emerged so far, and (5) plans for preserving both land and the economy.6An illustrative small town issue is ongoing in Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; a situation exists that is,in many ways, a microcosm of world environmental problems. The town has purchased a 169-acre,abandoned farm that shows exemplary ecosystem recovery (12 different habitats). One decisionthat must be made is whether this tract should be preserved as a nature park or turned into anothermixed-use park (Browder et al. 2000). At a two-day workshop attended by about 500 residents,80% of the citizens preferred that the land be used for nature preservation, environmental education,and passive recreation. Opponents favor an active-use plan (soccer fields, large parking lotsfor spectators, etc.) in which the concept of a nature park does not emerge as a guiding principle,i.e. protection and observation of wildlife, environmental education, and contemplation of nature1 See the 2004 review available online at http://uk.cambridge.org/economics/lomborg/reviews.htm2 See ‘UCS examines the “Skeptical Environmentalist”’ by Bjorn Lomborg, 2003, available online atwww.ucsusa.org/global_environment/archive/page.cfm?pageID=5333 See the 2004 editorial ‘Bush-league Lysenkoism: the White House bends science to its will’. Sci Am 26 Apr.Available online at www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=0001E02A-A14A-1084-983483414B7F0000&ref=sciam&chanID=sa0044 See ‘Restoring Scientific Integrity in Policy Making’, PDF download at www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release.cfm?newsID=3855 For details, visit www.urbangreendays.org/index.php?id=10596 See ‘A deal is reached to preserve land and the economy in the Adirondacks’, A de Palma, 22 April 2004,available online at www.nynjtc.org/externalnews/2004/adk1.html
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