Why should Exxon become more sustainable but not you?
To all of you out there who say that polluting companies should pollute less, if you pollute an unsustainable amount—that is, 20 percent of what the average American does—why should they change an not you?
It’s tempting to say that since they pollute so much, they should stop more, but first: they aren’t polluting for the sake of polluting. They are serving customers who pay them, including you.
Second, if you believe they should pollute less, it’s hard for me to imagine how your reasons that they should pollute less don’t also apply to you. If you say they should pollute less but you don’t yourself, and you fund their business by buying things that require their products, why should they follow what you say over what you do, specifically funding them?
Alternatively, if you started living sustainably, or at least moving there as much as you can, do you think you could influence them more? Could you imagine finding you liked it? If so, do you think you’d find new ways to influence them?
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