Psychological, Cultural, and Informational Barriers to Sustainability

The path to societal sustainability is strewn with barriers, opponents, and traps. That path is mainly uncharted and we can only imagine the barriers that lie ahead. By rehearsing in our minds what the barriers will look like and how they might be surmounted, we will be better prepared for the arduous expedition. Some of the barriers result from deficiencies in consciousness, knowledge, and information. People cannot intentionally change things they do not cognize. Significant barriers are being erected by opponents of environmental protection. Additional barriers stem from being trapped in our culture. Becoming aware of these barriers constitutes the first step toward finding ways to surmount them. I suggest possible solutions for some barriers but others defy solution at this time.