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No single thing that a single individual does will have much of an effect on climate change. The point is that a lot of people have to do a combination of thin
by frobozz 7y ago
No single thing that a single individual does will have much of an effect on climate change.
The point is that a lot of people have to do a combination of things.
The article states that:
> First, he points out that calculations, for the most part, ignore 80 percent of greenhouse emissions that we each contribute to the atmosphere from transportation, heating, lighting, and manufacturing.
So cut those as well. I may have missed something, but I didn't see anywhere above that said what those "ignorant" calculations concluded.
> becoming a vegetarian would cut the average person's greenhouse emissions by about 2 percent.
It then goes on to compare this to spending $3 per year on cap-and-trade allowances.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Offset are not XOR.
The conclusion is that you can cut your footprint by 4% by going vegetarian AND spending $3 per year on cap-and-trade allowances.
- Ididntdothis 7y ago“No single thing that a single individual does will have much of an effect on climate change” Dismissing something that may improve things to some degree but not completely is an old trick to stop inconvenient discussions and do nothing. Happens all the time. Drugs in the US costing too much compared to the rest of the world? Sure but look at how much the insurers make therefore stop asking why pharmaceutical companies charge that much. Reduce carbon emissions at home? would help but the real problem is China therefore let’s not do anything. Eating less meat is not the solution to everything but it would be a benefit in multiple ways. Less animal suffering, less emissions and better health.
- JoeAltmaier 7y agoNo, the idea that giving up a burger now and then and saying "I did my part" is the single most significant trick to stop folks from doing something more effective. Recognize truth, like the statement quoted, and move on to helping promote real solutions. That would be a significant act.
- couchand 7y agoBut nobody who would give up meat for climate change is going to be satisfied there. Your argument is a straw man.
- JoeAltmaier 7y agoCitation? How many vegetarians you know, do a single other thing (not counting 'giving up the straw in my soda')? Did they write their congressman? Do they even know that's a thing?
- couchand 7y agoYour lack of charity is alarming.
- JoeAltmaier 7y agoI'm just old and jaded I guess.
- Ididntdothis 7y agoYou can eat less meat and still understand that more needs to be done. There is no single “real solution” for most complex problems.