Background

• Environmental pollution was punctuated by the Industrial Revolution in Europe and it sustained its momentum into the 20th century with the proliferation of chemical agents. In the United States, public concern for the environment led to the formation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970. The creation of independent environmental organizations like Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth soon followed.
  
  

Principles

• A major tenet of the Go Green culture is the commitment to a low-carbon footprint. A carbon footprint is essentially a measure of how many greenhouse gas emissions are produced by a party's activities. Greenhouse gas has been attributed to climate change, so adherents adopt habits that constrict emissions. Another aspect of the Go Green culture is the support of sustainability, practices that keep eco-systems productive and diverse.
  
  

Criticism

• While the Go Green culture is gaining more and more visibility, the movement is met with critics who are skeptical of the establishment's activities. Academics like Bjorn Lomborg argue that the GoGreen culture embraces short-term solutions that are ultimately ineffectual.