Are baby boomers to blame?
Home » Blog » Are baby boomers to blame?Should baby boomers take more responsibility for reducing their emissions than younger generations? Are baby boomers more responsible for climate change than those under 40?
Do baby boomers have more responsibility to reduce greenhouse gas emissions than people under 40? Should they share more of the costs to cover damages from climate change? Are baby boomers willing to accept some responsibility so that younger generations can forgive them? There could be a lot riding on these questions.
It is a commonly accepted principle of global climate change negotiations that wealthy countries have more responsibility to reduce their emissions than less ‘developed’ countries. This is fair enough. Wealthy countries have put much more carbon into our atmosphere than less industrialised/consumerised societies. Huge economic wealth has been generated through burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests. Countries like China and India are simply following our lead.
By the same logic, baby boomers (in rich countries in particular) have loaded our atmosphere with much more carbon than younger generations. They have enjoyed enormous economic benefits as a result. I am not attacking them for doing this. After all, they have shared many benefits with younger people like me (although I do wonder what happened to free education, and do not get me started on how difficult it is to buy a house these days). While simple logic suggests that baby boomers do have more of a responsibility to tackle climate change, they are clearly not doing their fair share.
Younger people will be the ones who pay for most of the damage from climate change. We are also being set up to pay for future emissions reductions. This is a wonderful double whammy. For example, as the Sustainability Council recently reported, New Zealand’s new Emissions Trading Scheme will generate a huge intergenerational wealth transfer in the baby boomer’s favour.
A growing divide
A split seems to be emerging in society between people under about 35 years of age (ie generation X, Y and the ‘millennials’, or ‘generation We’) and our elders. Many people are also caught in between. Alex Steffen has contributed some excellent commentary in this area.
Younger people tend to be more open-hearted, more concerned about the state of our climate, and more active in turning this big ship called runaway climate change around. The youth-led 350 movement is a prime example. Are we likely to see an elderly-led climate movement any time soon? I actually hope so.
This is obviously a gross generalisation. I know many older people who are shining stars in the climate action movement. I also know many young people who are not taking climate change personally. There is a growing threat that a rupture in society is emerging though. Could this really be a war for the future?
I am not going to join any war. This is not a time for fighting. It is a time for righting (ie making things right). Many older people, who are currently trying to hold onto power in our society, must learn to let go. They will not respond well to force. This would only increase their resistance. We therefore need to do everything we can to rapidly accelerate a process of helping people to let go. What are baby boomers clinging on to anyway? They are probably worried about their economic security. As the latest financial meltdown has shown though, our economic systems need to be overhauled anyway. Maybe they are also afraid to admit some guilt. Could it be painful to admit that the world they have built is now threatening humanity’s existence?
I wonder what would help many baby boomers to let go. Do they need to feel loved? Do they need to feel secure that younger people will look after them? Do they need to be convinced how attractive the world could become by being more youthful themselves? An old world is crumbling. This does not mean that it needs to fall upon anyone’s heads.
Bridging the gap
I am concerned about this growing division in society. It is not really about ‘us’ and ‘them’. It is always about all of Us.
When I look at the growing social and environmental movements in society, I am more interested in the mindsets of people and how open-hearted they are instead of their age. I sometimes like to think that an ‘up-generation’ is coming into power in society. We are people who can see that our environment and economic systems are in decline. We have a right to be upset, but we remain up-beat. We know that we need to bring our energy up to turn things around. We will beat this descent by rising above it. We are defined by who we are, and not by when we were born. Then I remember that I am part of Generation X or Y (depending on which marketing person is making the call) and that most of us do not like being categorised in this way. We are simply active up-beat citizens.
I also believe in the power of generosity. So here we go: baby boomers, I forgive you. I know that you did not mean to create this mess. I know that you are very concerned about any children and/or grandchildren that you may have. I also know that you would like to leave the world in a better place than when you arrived. You have done many things to make this possible. I am very grateful for this. I know that you made many sacrifices to build an economically secure life. You have never wanted anyone to live in poverty. Now is your chance to remember (in case you have forgotten) how good life can be when you listen to your heart. Play a little. Be courageous. Find that sparkle in your eyes. Stop worrying about your retirement savings. Us younger ones will probably end up paying that bill for many of you anyway.
All I ask is this: Please let me forgive you. I can only forgive you if you accept what is really going on. Thank you if you have already accepted responsibility. If not, I am not trying to trick you. I mean well. As you reach retirement, I would also like you to remember how good you felt in your younger days. What are you going to do with all your spare time? Maybe it is time to find or reclaim your rebellious streak. Show us your ability to shine. Any children and/or grandchildren that you may have would probably thank you for it. Remember that this is the future of humanity that we are talking about. I have just one more thing to ask: please do not bring any tie-dye clothing back in your enthusiasm. If you do, please forgive me when I roll my eyes.
Wed December 16, 2009 @ 11:05 AM
