That’s a fair complaint for developed countries, but I feel like it’s less fair for developing countries where each point of GDP growth has a tangible effect on poverty rates, education, health, economic mobility, and overall wellbeing. Hell, an increase in economic resources will probably even offset the decrease in crop yield from climate change. For countries that are still developing, these things improve the lives of citizens more than the impact of climate change would hurt them.
Living in a developed country, we have a disproportionate responsibility for both reducing our own emissions and developing the technology and infrastructure to reduce emissions for everyone else. We should have led the charge towards ever cheaper solar and ever cheaper wind. We should have given the world clean and cheap technologies they can use to fuel their industrialization to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. We haven’t, but looking towards the future there’s still a lot we can do.
Remember that you can influence global emissions far more than by bringing your personal emissions down to zero.
I already do, but that’s completely missing the point.
Donating isn’t enough to solve the issue, and, moreover, it puts all of the onus on the good-willed people, which is just super convenient for you, isn’t it?
No, everyone needs to contribute to a better future. Such economic individualism is what caused these problems in the first place.
That’s a fair complaint for developed countries, but I feel like it’s less fair for developing countries where each point of GDP growth has a tangible effect on poverty rates, education, health, economic mobility, and overall wellbeing. Hell, an increase in economic resources will probably even offset the decrease in crop yield from climate change. For countries that are still developing, these things improve the lives of citizens more than the impact of climate change would hurt them.
Living in a developed country, we have a disproportionate responsibility for both reducing our own emissions and developing the technology and infrastructure to reduce emissions for everyone else. We should have led the charge towards ever cheaper solar and ever cheaper wind. We should have given the world clean and cheap technologies they can use to fuel their industrialization to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. We haven’t, but looking towards the future there’s still a lot we can do.
Remember that you can influence global emissions far more than by bringing your personal emissions down to zero.
Yes, exactly, the developed world should aid the developing world as much as possible in providing them clean technologies.
We are rich enough. We can afford that. And we all benefit in the end (because, after all, a lot of our supplies originate from developing countries).
Yep just raise everyone’s taxes in the EU and US/Canada and give it to everybody else, sounds awesome.
It does! I want to be taxed more to help others in need, and for the betterment of all.
Sadly, we have to fight a pretty big portion of our population that got that “fuck you got mine” attitude.
Then donate your money to a worthy cause.
I already do, but that’s completely missing the point.
Donating isn’t enough to solve the issue, and, moreover, it puts all of the onus on the good-willed people, which is just super convenient for you, isn’t it?
No, everyone needs to contribute to a better future. Such economic individualism is what caused these problems in the first place.
I give more to charity in both time and money than you ever have, I guarantee it. Take your assumptions and pound sand.