I often go on about the importance of ‘doing’ and ‘learning by doing’ – it is after all the essence of what my Do-Tank idea is all about. To clarify my position, although my focus is on ‘doing’ it is in no way meant to detract from the importance of strategic planning and all that it entails. In actual fact integrated design in the environmental field – looking at problems and solutions from multiple perspectives and over time – is becoming ever more important.
Worryingly though strategic planning, as far as the environment is concerned, is poorly served by the western political system. Countries, cities and states are often run in silos offering little opportunity for meaningful multidisciplinary solutions to problems. The short tenures of politicians furthermore aren’t geared towards getting the environmental results we want because the slow pace of environmental change means that there’s often no political payback during their term in office. Finally, and perhaps worst, is that politicians are in many cases compromised by those who have backed them who see the environment as a hindrance to progress, job creation or growth. This is particularly true in the US.
I read Robert Redford’s recent article on the Huffington Post with mixed emotions: it was about how President Obama stood up to big oil and rejected a major oil pipeline that was due to run from Canada to Texas and although Redford felt it was a great environmental outcome he also felt it would come at great risk to Obama politically as he gears up for re-election (something the President was apparently made aware of in no uncertain terms by big oil representatives).
Presidential elections every 4 years are one thing but it is the short 2 year cycle for Representatives in the lower house and the extent of financial backing required to get elected that is the real problem (Australia by contrast is 3 years and the UK 5). With such backing comes an obligation to groups whose goals invariably run counter to protecting the environment.
The environment isn’t normally high on the political agenda however you cut the cake. Aside from rare brave decisions about oil pipelines, the need for integrated design with sustainability in mind wrested from the hands of our elected representatives is going to be crucial.