Seth Godin, in his post "Getting Sad at Whole Foods" talks about how guilt will only take the environmental rationing movement so far.
Yes, I said 'rationing'. First, assume that the only way forward is to ration our 'limited' resources. Therefore, many traditional greenies are into Guilt Evangelism - have less, do less, buy less, make less*, because how dare you, as a citizen of the First World, need 5 times your numerical share of Earth to support you.
I used to buy this idea. I felt guilty. However, I, like Seth's imagined customers at Whole Foods, got over it, with time. Fortunately, when I got over it, I didn't go out and buy a souped-up transportation device.
Instead, I realized that if I bought less, and scheduled myself less, and made changes so that my house consumed less...I would have more money and time. And more money and time buys freedom. Like Seth, I think that this is the lesson that has legs, the one that will really sing to people when they wrap their minds around the paradox: do less, have more. (Anyone who doesn't understand this needs to practice it a little longer - hint: satisfy inner needs with positive friends and good works, not shopping sprees.)
Now, pretend that you've been practicing this first paradox, and it's working, and you're wondering about this 'rationing' business, and doesn't that seem grim? Right.
I don't see human ingenuity and knowledge as something we're short on. (The everyday exercise of same is woefully scarce, but I can only improve myself.) Got lots of sunlight, with no end in sight. Nor warm temperatures. All of which promote investigation of permaculture, which is a study of how we may fit into a designed plant/animal/mineral environment so as to produce what everyone needs, rather than just what we need at the expense of all, including ourselves. A positive spiral, rather than the current negative one. See 'Greening the Desert' and 'The Man Who Farms Water'. I'm learning about how permaculture works in a book called Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture, by Toby Hemenway and John Todd, and it's changing my outlook at the grocery store and at the design board.
Also: The Geography of Hope, Chris Turner, reviewed on Treehugger
--------------------------------------------
*I do think that contracting one's expectations is a Good Thing, but for totally selfish reasons - I do a better job, learn faster, am more effective, and am happier and more relaxed when I do less and consume less. I think that's the #1 reason to reduce lifestyle.