Saving the Planet is a Selfish Goal

I saw this clip from a standup routine from 17 years ago and it echoed a thought that's been brewing in the back of my mind for a long time.

We want to save the world and all the little creatures on it. We're not saving the world. We can't save it. Because there's no threat to it. We are not a threat. This gigantic ball has been swinging around the star for millennia. And we think anything we do could possibly stop it? What a joke. How self important.

The truth is, we're lying to ourselves. We aren't even trying to "save the planet" in the first place. What we're doing is trying to preserve it in the state it is now. We're trying to prevent it from changing. But the earth is always changing and there's nothing we can do. Species are dying. Species always die. But at the same time, new species are born and diversify and fill in the empty niches left behind. So why bother trying to stop it? There is a reason for what we do. There will come a point in time where the planet has changed so much that we will not be able to survive it. Just like all the other species, we will die out one day. This half-mad dash to stop the planet from continuing to change as it has for millennia before us, it's all just a desperate ploy to save our own skins. That sounds pretty selfish to me.

So what do I do now? I still recycle when I can. I still try to reuse and fix what can still function. But now I don't kid myself about my motives. I do these things because I'm an inherently selfish creature. I clean up after myself because I don't want to live in a dirty environment. I recycle and pick up trash I find because I don't want trash in my yard. I compost my kitchen scraps because I don't want it to rot in my trashcan and stink up my house. I buy whole foods and cook for myself and meal prep because it's cheaper and better for my health. And I encourage everyone around me to do the same because I want to live in a society where my neighbors are healthy and happy and not a threat to me.

So get rid of the moral grand standing and talking down to people who you deem to be not eco-friendly enough. Your not going to convince anyone with that kind of behavior and it's only going to loose you friends. Look at yourself and realize your own selfish reasons for what you do. Pick out the ones that drive you toward good actions that better yourself and your community and toss out the rest. You'll be happier that way. And if you encourage those around you to do the same, we can make the little time we have left on this planet a little more pleasant. And though that goal may be selfish, I think it's still one worth pursuing.