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Per-capita emissions are the highest in the US, Canada, and Australia [1]. The US is also the second-largest emitter of CO2. There is much to be gained by foc
by iso1337 8y ago
Per-capita emissions are the highest in the US, Canada, and Australia [1]. The US is also the second-largest emitter of CO2. There is much to be gained by focusing on emissions in the US. Unfortunately, most USians would like a large house with yard, 2+ large cars, etc.
Also think about cultural projections -- Hollywood often depicts wealthy people shuttling around in large, inefficient SUVs. These images and aspirations are then transmitted to the rest of the world.
https://www.ucsusa.org/global-warming/science-and-impacts/science/each-countrys-share-of-co2.html https://www.ucsusa.org/global-warming/science-and-impacts/sc...
- mberning 8y agoPer capita is a BS way to look at it. If US emissions are growing at 0.5% per year then there is nothing to do. It will take 140 years to double and the natural progression of technology will easily solve the problem. Solar and other renewable technologies are advancing so fast that economic factors will take over and there will be much less need for fossil fuels very shortly. On the other hand if a country with a large population is growing emissions at 8% then that is less than a decade to double which is a huge problem. On another note, why do resent the lifestyle of average people? Not everybody wants to live in an urban hellscape with millions of other people. You speak about it with such contempt.
- iso1337 8y agoWhat is the lifestyle of the average person? It’s certainly not that of a USian The average salary worldwide is 10k USD. I agree that many people would like to live in some sort of idyllic rural or suburban setting. Indeed, that is what I prefer myself. However, with 7 billion of us in this planet, we may have to rethink what is feasible.