The coming decades will demand a change in the way we think about ourselves

Paradigm shifts such as the agricultural revolution, industrial revolution and communication revolution don’t happen often, so it’s remarkable that in the coming decades we’ll witness not one but two revolutions simultaneously.

The communication revolution, which has dramatically shifted the way we produce, store and share information, remains in full swing. It’s not clear when it will end, or what its final impact will be. But while it continues to unfold, a new revolution has already begun brewing: the “sustainability revolution.” (Not the “green” revolution, but more on that later.)

My biology professor was famous for saying, “I’m not worried about nature, I’m worried about us.” I had no concrete concept of what he meant when I was in his class, but three decades later it finally sunk in: If we do not fundamentally change our thinking and behavior we will simply not be able to survive as a species.

The term “green” has many connotations, from small things like plastic grocery bags and composting to larger topics like renewable energy and global warming, but it generally means good for the Earth. “Green” does play a substantial role in the sustainability revolution, but it would be naïve to think that simply driving electric cars, drinking organic wine and reusing cotton shopping bags will guarantee the survival of our species. Sustainability has a much larger meaning. Evolving into a sustainable lifestyle will demand philosophical, psychological, emotional and behavioral changes on a grander scale. Ultimately it will mean nothing less than a cultural quantum leap.

That’s a lot of take in, so let’s use a concrete example. The “Moment of Truth” Plan, the bipartisan initiative that would trim the US deficit by $4 trillion by 2020, includes this quote: “Our challenge is clear and inescapable: America cannot be great if we go broke.” The panel is saying that our current economic path is not sustainable, which means we need to ask ourselves a larger question: Is an economic system based solely on growth sustainable? The answer is no. There is scientific proof that a system — whether natural, man-made, physical or otherwise — cannot expand indefinitely, yet our current spending, savings and investment plans are all based on the belief that our economic output can and will grow forever. Government spending and the resulting budget deficits are being tolerated because of the theory that tax revenues will indefinitely increase and eventually afford us the ability to repay our debt.

You don’t have to look far to find out why that doesn’t make sense: The real estate crash was a real-life example of what happens if you allow a system to over-leverage itself in the belief that home values will continually increase. Of course that proved false; the market collapsed and nearly took down the whole financial system with it.

I’m using economic examples to show that sustainability goes beyond simply living in harmony with nature. It will have to be applied on all scales: in our homes, our businesses, our towns, our states and our global community. It will have to be applied to all disciplines: agriculture, energy, transportation, housing, material production, health care and more. It will require us to redefine such terms as happiness, success, productivity and social justice.

Obviously, these adjustments will not be easy. They will not happen gradually, but drastically, and at an ever-increasing pace. Things will not necessarily unfold in neat chapters; at times they will feel chaotic, confusing and overwhelming and will likely produce as much stress as relief. There will be winners and losers — as there are in any revolution. But ultimately — assuming we succeed — we can catapult our quality of life to a higher level. Besides, let’s face it: We don’t have much of a choice. If we want to survive, we need to find a way to live in harmony, not just with nature but also with ourselves.

P.S. This piece is dedicated to my son Marco, who inspired me to think beyond the obvious. Email me your thoughts at mfrey@freymedia.com.