ABSTRACT
The challenge for the twenty-first-century sustainability movement is to “operationalize the variable,” in the parlance of scholars, in a manner that leads to effective action. Supporters of environmental stewardship must ensure that abstract, amorphous, vague concepts such as “sustainable,” “green,” and “environmentally friendly,” among others, are translated into practical, “real world” solutions leading to demonstrable, measurable effects. The literature on environmentalism is filled with stirring, noble, eloquent pleas to save Mother Earth from humanity’s thoughtlessness, yet the prescriptions for change are sweeping and unrealistic. Such unattainable objectives can demoralize the rational actor and embolden the skeptic. Alternatively, some environmental activists expend time and energy pursuing narrow, ineffectual goals or niche, “pet peeve” issues driven by emotionalism and political expediency that have no appreciable effect, positive or negative, on systemic environmental quality. What is needed in lieu of extreme positions is a thoughtful, realistic, incremental, science-based approach to environmentalism that balances competing values of freedom and authority, international, national, state, and local political power as well as environmentalism and industrialization.2
