On the Road to a Conserver Society

It was 1973.  The world was experiencing the first oil crisis, and an intrepid group of Canadians from the Science Council of Canada first postulated the idea of “a conserver society” where economic and social development would occur in harmony with nature and natural processes.

Had we only listened, back then.  Instead the oil taps were turned back on and the economy and consumption continued to grow exponentially.

At one level, sadly enough, we only respond to real and immediate crises.   It is crisis, whether environmental or economic, that will eventually cause us to become a true conserver society.  And those taps are starting to run dry once more

But in the meantime, there is hope — a steady growth in conserver values and an emerging green economy that started around 1990 (during what is referred to as the “second green wave”).  This is the true hope for fighting climate change, peak oil, economic turmoil, and many other threats to our future security.

Through “We Conserve“,  the Conservation Council of Ontario is finding way to build on this existing positive force and foster a united conservation movement.  In the end, it is our only hope:  a whole society that not only says “we must change” but that is willing to make those changes voluntarily in our lives, our communities, and our businesses.

We may not be able to create a sustainable future through voluntary change, but I can promise you this:

1.  We can help individuals live better now, and be better prepared for future crises through conservation

2.  We can lay the foundation for a rapid response to future environmental and economic crises

3.  We can create a strong voice for government leadership to support our individual commitment

There are many stories to tell on the path to a conserver society – stories of innovation, of local initiatives, and of united campaigns.  I will do my best to weave them together into an ongoing narrative of how a society recognized the threats to its existence, and seized the opportunities to create a more sane and healthier future.

We conserve.