Feeling green guilt? You're not alone. The facts are staggering:

• According to a national poll sponsored by Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies in 2007, 81 perfect of Americans said they felt a “personal responsibility” to do something about global warming.
• The Second Annual Green Guilt survey, commissioned by the non-profit Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation, found that women carry more of the “green guilt” burden than men. (17% vs. 26%)
• A small 2007 survey of British drivers revealed that more than half considered unethical, unsustainable living a “social taboo”. The downside? Nine out of 10 people admitted to lying about the extent of their eco-commitment.

The truth is out – people feel guilty about the state of the environment, but many are still unsure about changing to a more sustainable lifestyle.  Most people look down on smoking, even those that do it; they know it is bad, but how do you stop?

The same stigma about eco-friendly options is developing, mostly due to the overwhelming amount of negative facts shoved in our face … also known as green guilt. Can we guilt the majority of consumers into living more eco-conscious lives? Do we really want to go that route?

Back to the smoking example, while millions of people know it is a nasty habit that has no health benefits, they still do it. Cigarette companies still make billions of dollars each year, despite the fact that we all know smoking is as bad as driving drunk (or worse). Can guilting people into living eco-friendly lifestyles work? Won’t they just rebel like teenagers do against their parents?

Maybe there is another option – being supportive. While a little bit of guilt can make people commit to small changes, living a truly sustainable lifestyle has to be a personal choice if you want to stick with it for the long term. Instead of shoving scary facts and bags of recycling in people’s faces, why don’t we smile and reach out a hand? Alcoholics Anonymous is based on the general idea of bringing together numerous people who need the same kind of help.

Does that mean Eco-Living Anonymous groups are right around the corner? Not necessarily. Simply talking to your fellow friends and family about their eco-commitments and goals can get the ball rolling. The ever-growing expanse of online social networks is another great place to meet others who are at different stages of sustainable changes – those you can look to for advice and support without feeling like a martyr.

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