This past summer I was asked to read a book for my August Don training session. It was one of those quasi-inspirational books that are a joy to read, but very idealistic and overly positive about life’s greatest challenges. Anyway, the book was full of fascinating ideas and concepts, some of which relate to making rational and practical policy decisions on the environment. I came across a term called the “law of diminishing intent”. Simply put, it means that when a leader has a great idea with popular support, they should put it into practice expeditiously. A solidified idea can always expand and get bigger and bigger the more you delay it. While this is all well and good, it may distract someone from implementing the idea and putting it into practice. Therefore, the longer you wait to carry out your leadership initiative, idea or policy approach, your intent and inclination will gradually diminish. You lose motivation over time and your enthusiasm also decreases because you have waited so long to do something with your idea.
For environmental decision-making around the world, the same principle holds. Our politicians placed at the top of the hierarchy continue to release highly contentious environmental policy plans that not only face opposition from the public, but from members of their own parties. The law of diminishing intent has the potential to be both productive and counter-productive. Well-thought out policies that are environmentally, socially and economically sound are rarely spoken of. Probably because our decision-makers are too caught up on how to optimally deliver a policy that guarantees adequacy in all three categories. Our leaders, politicians and environmental lobby groups need to consciously think about how to execute and deliver their plans or ideas. With regard to our natural environment, it is the law of diminishing intent that vaporizes all of the sensible and practical solutions.
Key message: Overcoming the law of diminishing intent will require our leaders to stop getting caught up in overly ambitious targets. Our leaders focus particularly on quantitative targets that may be too ambitious and unrealistic to achieve like meeting our greenhouse gas emissions targets. They need to consider other approaches that are more inclusionary and efficient. They can start with meaningful action that engages citizens to participate and become a part of the decision-making process. When engaged citizens are working together and become part of the decision-making process, you minimize the law of diminishing intent because you have established a more cohesive decision-making body.
interesting.....
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