3 ms·

You’re probably correct that your reusable cup and paper straws are ineffective mechanisms for preventing climate change.

• Mirioron 7y ago
  But they do make you feel like you're doing your part. I wonder how many people are just satisfied with that and whether it wouldn't have made more sense to push other solutions instead.
• lorenzhs 7y ago
  Reducing the use of disposable plastics isn't supposed to prevent climate change, it's about reducing the amount of trash. While any trash that you put in the bin in a western country is highly unlikely to end up in the world's oceans, it still sends a signal against ubiquitous single-use products. That the two are so often treated as one is really unfortunate. Because if people actually cared about reducing their individual carbon emissions, they'd have to give up things like flying and eating meat, not disposable plastics. But that involves actual changes in behaviour, so it's not exactly popular and many people find the mere suggestion offensive.