For the present, research indicates that the public still underestimates, to a degree hugely convenient to the richest groups, their contribution to global warming. The majority of respondents in a four-country study overestimated the carbon footprint of the poorest 50%, and underestimated those of the richest 10% and 1%. One of its authors, Dr Ramit Debnath, commented: “These countries are very different, but we found the rich are pretty similar no matter where you go, and their concerns are different to the rest of society. There’s a huge contrast between billionaires travelling by private jet while the rest of us drink with soggy paper straws: one of those activities has a big impact on an individual carbon footprint, and one doesn’t.”
This is why I get pissy when people who can afford to take vacations tell me that I need to reduce my footprint. The most I’ve ever flown was a couple years ago where there were three funerals in sixteen months.
The local progressive scene is full of rich fuckers that think their non-native lawns and vacation homes come out in the wash because they buy ‘climate neutral’ marketed goods. It’s like that bizarre argument I had once where somebody was saying that replacing monoculture grass with a native garden was less beneficial for the environment than buying wind credits from the power company. His logic was that plants only temporarily store CO2, whereas wind credits actually remove carbon permanently, and I don’t know whose ass he pulled that from.
I know it’s semantics but those sound like nimby liberals and not progressives. Also yeah interesting argument on this part. I think easy climate action always starts in our homes and backyards!
A whopping 2.5% of global emissions are from air travel.
And I’m fine with it. Solidarity is necessary for a just transition.
But it won’t be a significant stop on climate change.
Getting our buildings and cars green will have a much bigger effect.
What does the phrase getting green mean to you?
“Getting green” to me means Greenwashing, lots of talk and ignoring actual solutions.
Solving climate change means getting carbon emissions under control as soon and fast as possible.
Which means a focus on energy use by buildings and road transport, and a willingness to use all economic and technological solutions that accomplish that goal.
What is your plan for steel and concrete? Getting rid of diesel and bunker fuel in transport and mineral extraction? These would be big wins, but there are no easy fixes.
That’s honestly more then I thought and I already felt too guilty about traveling to get on and airplane.