"Why Bother?" Summary

Making conscious efforts to save the environment and prevent climate change have been some of the most prevalent issues for years. In “Why Bother,” an article written by Michael Pollan about climate change, questions several arguments on why we should do our part in going green. Pollan’s decision to become more aware and do his part in green living was inspired by Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth. In the article, Pollan discusses that many people are aware of the rapid environmental changes, but feel that it is too late to take action. He stresses that if we are waiting “for legislation or technology to solve the problem of how we’re living our lives suggests that we’re not really serious about changing” because our politicians are not going to take the initiative to begin the process (90). He also adds that there are many ways we can contribute to environmental preservation in ways such as, growing our own crops, reducing our meat intake, or “abstain completely from economic activity: no shopping, no driving, no electronics (91). As Pollan says, if one of us bothers, other people will begin to bother too because of example.

Although Pollan argues that we should all do our part in preserving the environment, he acknowledges the difficulties in green living.  “According to one analysis, if walking to work increases your appetite and you consume more meat or milk as a result, walking might actually emit more carbon than driving” (89). Pollan adds several other analyses that question whether our attempts positively affect the environment, which he argues can cause conflict in a person’s desire to continue being conservation. Also, Pollan argues that many people are discouraged from going green because “there lives my evil twin” who is doing the complete opposite (89). Therefore, since others are not living green, an individual may be unable to see his or her progress.
                                               

Works Cited

Pollan, Michael. “Why Bother?” New York Times Magazine 20 Apr 2008:

            19+. Rpt. in The Allyn and Bacon Guide to Writing. John D.

            Ramage, John C. Bean, and June Johnson. 6^th ed. New York:

            Pearson, 2012. 88-94. Print.