are environmental activists hypocrites?
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EP. 25 Are environmental activists hypocrites?
How must one act to present oneself as an environmental activist? Why are so many sustainability advocates criticized for their lifestyle? Are these people “fake?”
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Action speaks louder than words but not nearly as often.
- Mark Twain
Today, I would like to delve into a frequently discussed topic in the “climate change” debate. Are environmental activists hypocrites? When this question is brought up, many might think of a typical image of wealthy environmental activists (commonly politicians or celebrities) living a wasteful lifestyle while they speak passionately about how our planet is in danger. Though I believe this image is valid, this question can be more meaningful than simply whether that particular image should be described as a form of hypocrisy. It can expand to a debate on what ordinary people should do if they support sustainability and how one should act on our values to “qualify” as part of the community or identity.
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Are Environmental Activists Hypocrites?
hypocrite
noun
hyp·o·crite ˈhi-pə-ˌkrit
1: a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion
2: a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings
I was angered by two things when I learned about the climate crisis. The first was how our human race could commit such a crime against our planet like this. How we were so selfish and careless to harm so many innocent animals and destroy our own future? Furthermore, I was furious at the people who had power, specifically the political leaders. They spoke about the climate crisis, about what we should do to help our planet, about recycling, and about what they plan to do to stop global warming in the future. Yet, they take unnecessary plane rides everywhere, eat meat, and buy excessive things that don’t need to be purchased. They had yet to promote any positive change in our world. “Fake” was the word I used to describe them in my head.
The amount of environmental supporters who act in such a self-contradicting way makes it hard not to change my opinions on their fakeness. However, “environmental activists” is much too broad of a community to be described as hypocrites. This is the most crucial problem that I would like to address. The problem is big and apparent in many other communities. When outspoken people (commonly politicians, wealthy people, and celebrities) publicly identify or state they support a particular movement, in this case, the sustainability movement, the public community will generally view these people as a representation of the entire campaign.
Many of the Celebrities who Support and Advocate for the Climate Crisis. Image from WWD
News reports of said sustainability supporters flying private jets to places one hour away create the central image of a “fake” community of sustainable activists. Making assumptions and generalizing an entire movement as a specific adjective is easy. In this case, the word “hypocrite” or “fake.”
however…
The sustainability community is large and passionate. The self-contradicting actions of celebrities and outspoken people are only a tiny percentage of this community. There are elderly people who grow their vegetables, students who use reusable water bottles, people who bring their reusable bags when shopping, and thousands of non-profit organizations helping clean the plastic waste from our oceans. This community should not be defined by the actions of a few celebrities and politicians.
When our leaders and representatives refuse to act and change, the responsibility falls onto tens of thousands of ordinary people in this community with the passion, courage, and love to change for the better. Our beliefs and ideas on this movement should not swayed because of the lack of action from others. The changes of ordinary individuals matter.
In the case of the sustainability movement, if one is genuinely inspired and set on helping restore the home we are destroying, our actions should not halter. Despite others, The small lifestyle changes we make today make a difference. I have written several blog posts on the steps one can take to support the sustainability movement (which I have listed at the bottom of this post). However, today, I would like to shine a new perspective on the power that we individuals have. I want to present a few numbers showing how powerful and influential individuals can be with only one simple lifestyle change.
Using the United States as an example, the average person eats around 274 pounds of meat yearly. If we were to eat only one meal with meat every day, we would be decreasing our consumption by 182 pounds of meat. On average, the production of a pound of meat produces takes approximately 10 pounds of carbon dioxide. That would mean by eating one meal with meat daily for a year, we would save 1820 pounds of carbon emissions. On average, people produce 4 tons of carbon emissions each year. This slight shift in our eating habits would reduce our carbon emission footprint by almost 25%!
While our actions are essential, this mindset of acknowledging the power of individuals and the willingness to commit to change even if the rest of the world doesn’t change is even more impactful. Imagine if your whole family, friend group, or neighborhood implemented this mindset. Imagine if half the population of the United States implemented this mindset. That would mean reducing up to 319410 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually. The amount of positive change that would gradually build up because of our effort and thinking is enchanting. The climate crisis we face today is getting out of hand; it is truly becoming something we cannot reverse. We can make an impact only when we believe and when individuals come together to change despite inaction from our leaders.
The Severe Weather We Have Been Facing these Years a Reflection of how Severe the Climate Crisis is Getting. Image from NRDC
Thus, I repeat this sentence: However, “environmental activists” is much too broad of a community to be described as hypocrites or to be known as fake. When a single word defines the movement we support or when we see the lack of change amongst influential leaders, it is challenging to continue making an effort by ourselves. But that’s the issue. We cannot let the so-called “hypocrites” impact our ability and motivation. Or else, they are not only changing the society’s views on the sustainability movement but also the power and mindset of individuals inside the movement. We will not let that happen.
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A Critical Analysis of Controversial Environmental Activists
The most infuriating cases of eco-hypocrisy are not with celebrities or environmental activists but instead with leaders. Politicians who can set the rules and have the most power to influence an entire society or country to change and work for the better future of our planet. The presidents who spoke of their concern and support for the environmental crisis then turned their backs and started the new cultivation of fossil fuels in Alaska. The politicians who signed the Paris Agreement, promising to limit our planet’s rising temperatures, yet made little effort to try and stop the polluting actions. Words alone will never lead to results and will never lead to change. But isn’t that precisely what these people are doing?
Leaders at the Paris Agreement. Image from Science in the News
It is undeniable that the controversial actions of environmental supporting celebrities set a big impression on the rest of the world. Leonardo Dicaprio is one of the most pronounced examples. This famous actor has sparked controversy several times over his contributions supporting the environmental movement and yet “costly” and “wasteful” lifestyle choices. As a highly respected and influential person for many, Leonardo Dicaprio has frequently used his platform and voice to speak about pressing concerns regarding climate change and our planet. A famous example includes his acceptance speech for the “Best Actor of the Year” award in 2016 when he discussed the climate change crisis our planet faces. “Climate change is real; it is happening right now. It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species, and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating.” In 1998, DiCaprio also created the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation to support organizations and initiatives dedicated to securing a sustainable future for our planet.
Leonardo Speaking About the Climate Crisis at His Acceptance Speech for the “Best Actor of the Year.” Image from Forbes
However, at the same time, Leonardo Dicaprio has also been reported several times of riding his private jet across the world, the most controversial being when, in 2016, he reportedly flew 8,000 miles via private jet from Europe to New York City to accept an award for his environmental activism. Riding private jets has been proven by research to emit at least ten times more pollutants than commercial planes per passenger. As someone who is known as an environmental activist, his constant traveling method and lifestyle as a “wealthy” person is often described as a case of “eco-hypocrisy.”
but…
How should one act when they are in support of a particular movement? Is there only one specific way to respect their belief? Though one’s actions might contradict with one’s views, does that cancel out all their contributions?
Like Leonardo Dicaprio, whose lifestyle and actions may contradict, should we immediately forget his influence, voice, and campaigns for the sustainability movement because of his lifestyle choices? Would you rather he not promote sustainability at all?
I’m sure almost everyone knows of Elon Musk. He is the founder of Tesla, the leading electric car company in the world. Electric cars generally produce much lower carbon emissions than standard gasoline cars because they rely on batteries. Though the production of batteries still has a large amount of carbon emissions, the other sustainable parts of the Tesla car help to cancel that out. 90% of manufacturing waste is recycled. In 2022, Tesla’s customers avoided releasing about 13.4 million metric tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. Tesla uses vegan leather. Compared to other electric vehicles that burn fossil fuels while producing electricity while charging a Tesla, the company employed 100% renewable energy for its superchargers, meaning it has zero emissions when charging. The company also recycles and reuses its batteries. However, Elon Musk, as a wealthy business owner, has not made significant changes to his own lifestyle, with any sustainable diet or decrease of plane rides.
Elon Musk, the Founder of Tesla. Image from Architectural Digest
So, is Elon Musk an eco-hypocrite? Should the sustainable contributions and ideas of Tesla that Elon Musk contributed be called “fake” or not worthy of its sustainable name because of the lifestyle choices of Elon Musk? From this perspective, it is hard to say with complete confidence yes or no. Compared to a politician who signs sustainable agreements of promises without acting, can we describe Elon Musk with the same word?
Though one may declare themselves part of a specific movement, there is a difference between putting in action and simply speaking words. Though someone may not upturn their lifestyle for a campaign, does that mean their efforts contributing to the particular belief don’t count? A false appearance defines hypocrisy; I believe contradictions between one’s lifestyle and contributions cannot be put into that category. Instead, it refers to when one doesn’t have any actions to support their words, simply using their messages to form an appearance of concern towards the movement. Yes, we can label many environmental activists “hypocrites,” but not all of them, especially if we view their contributions and dedication from a critical point of view.
I believe it is this objective new way of looking at the sustainable movement, or any movement, that can promote the individual’s actions but also change how we judge another’s behavior. It is only when a person does not use actions to support their words that we label them a true “hypocrite.” Actions, not words. Even if the actions might not mean a completely drastic change in their lives, they shouldn’t be judged, especially by those who haven’t acted.
It is easy for the world to judge others, but how many of us can actually make the same impact and change that these so-called “eco-hypocrites” have made? Putting in words is easy. Saying that you are concerned about the climate crisis is quick, but actions are what matters. For those who are influential they might support the sustainability movement through using their platform to spread the word. For those who own businesses or are wealthy, they show their support through creations and innovations. For ordinary people who care, perhaps the best that we can do is to make an effort to change our own lifestyles, one step at a time. Different actions made by different people all make an impact. Big or small.
Thank you for reading ♡
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Sustainable Actions We Can Take Today:
10 Small Actions You Can make in Your Daily Life to Help the Environment
How to be Eco-friendly if You are a Student
81 Ways to Reduce Your Amount of Waste and Be More Eco-friendly
Citations:
“Merriam-Webster Dictionary.” Merriam-Webster.com, 18 Aug. 2023, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypocrite#:~:text=%CB%88hip%2D%C9%99%2D%CB%8Ckrit-,1,hypocritical. Accessed 29 Aug. 2023.
Flink, Tanya. “10 Ways Leonardo DiCaprio Is Working to Save the Planet Every Day.” VegNews.com, VegNews, 11 Nov. 2022, vegnews.com/vegan-news/leonardo-dicaprio-save-the-planet. Accessed 1 Sept. 2023.
“Leonardo DiCaprio | Leaders | WWF.” World Wildlife Fund, 2023, www.worldwildlife.org/leaders/leonardo-dicaprio. Accessed 1 Sept. 2023.
“Leonardo DiCaprio – 88th Academy Awards Acceptance Speech for Best Actor (2016).” Genius, 2016, genius.com/Leonardo-dicaprio-88th-academy-awards-acceptance-speech-for-best-actor-2016-annotated. Accessed 1 Sept. 2023.
Reid, Channing. “How Bad Are Private Jets for the Environment?” Simple Flying, Simple Flying, 5 July 2023, simpleflying.com/how-bad-are-private-jets-for-the-environment/#:~:text=Although%20fewer%20private%20aircraft%20fly,than%20commercial%20planes%20per%20passenger. Accessed 1 Sept. 2023.
O’grady, Sean. “Leonardo DiCaprio Risks Accusations of Eco-Hypocrisy as He Leaves Sardinia from Private Airport.” Mail Online, Daily Mail, 30 May 2023, www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-12139585/Leonardo-DiCaprio-risks-accusations-eco-hypocrisy-leaves-Sardinia-private-airport.html. Accessed 1 Sept. 2023.
Joey. “74 SHOCKING Plastic Water Bottle Pollution Facts & Statistics (2023).” Jersey Island Holidays, 11 Nov. 2019, www.jerseyislandholidays.com/plastic-bottle-pollution-statistics/#:~:text=Popular%20Plastic%20Bottle%20Pollution%20Statistics,fish%20according%20to%20environmental%20scientists. Accessed 4 Sept. 2023.
“What Is Your Carbon Footprint?” The Nature Conservancy, 2016, www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/carbon-footprint-calculator/#:~:text=Globally%2C%20the%20average%20carbon%20footprint,tons%20doesn’t%20happen%20overnight! Accessed 4 Sept. 2023.
Christen, Caroline. “Meat Consumption in the U.S. Is Growing at an Alarming Rate.” Sentient Media, 18 Mar. 2021, sentientmedia.org/meat-consumption-in-the-us/#:~:text=Americans%20consume%20around%20274%20pounds,fish%2C%20or%20individual%20food%20waste. Accessed 4 Sept. 2023.
Simms, Dan. “How Sustainable Is Tesla?” LeafScore, 7 Mar. 2023, www.leafscore.com/tesla/just-how-sustainable-is-tesla/#:~:text=First%20off%2C%20none%20of%20the,long%2Dterm%20emissions%20for%20production. Accessed 4 Sept. 2023.