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> Suppose you believe, as I do, that we have to slash our carbon emissions drastically and urgently to ameliorate the worst effects of the climate catastrophe t

> Suppose you believe, as I do, that we have to slash our carbon emissions drastically and urgently to ameliorate the worst effects of the climate catastrophe that is beginning to engulf us. And that you believe, as I do, that travel is a good thing for individuals and societies, and that in principle every human should enjoy the opportunity to visit every neighborhood around our fair planet. Can these beliefs be reconciled? Yes, without any change actually, given that passenger air traffic is only 2% of the emissions in the world. It's again the big industries that actually are responsible for the vast majority of pollution displacing the blame on the individuals to get a "get out of jail free" card for themselves.

tbossanova 4y ago
Which part of the “big industries” would you target first, in order to make a bigger impact than the 2% that air travel represents?
- dopidopHN 4y ago
  Electricity production with coal. From the top of my head is a two digit number, but I’m currently suffering from the aforementioned jetlag… so let check with that French guy jancovisi. He has a utterly pragmatic approch. https://jancovici.com/en/climate-change/ghgs-and-us/how-do-greenhouse-gas-emissions-presently-evolve/ https://jancovici.com/en/climate-change/ghgs-and-us/how-do-g... See : « CO2 emissions by activity since 1971 » Transports comes third after power, and industrie.
- shmel 4y ago
  Oh, there are plenty. First of all, actual energy production with fossil fuel. Second, better insulation/ventilation of existing houses to reduce heating/AC costs. While we are at it, we can fit solar panels on roofs, it will give us more electricity hence less fossil fuel to burn. Electric cars too, the tech is already there. Steel production (and other heavy industry) accounts for 8% of global emissions afaik. Meat production estimates vary a lot: from 9% to 35% or so. I know it is very controversial, but I'd rather go vegan than give up air travel.
- LightG 4y ago
  As per someone above: ">emissions tend to do more damage at high altitude than they do at ground level I've always been a bit dismissive of aviation as a carbon emissions contributor because globally it only accounts for around 2%. Thanks for pointing this out, I was unaware of this fact. Is the relationship between altitude and warming effect known? Are we talking linear or something worse?"
- josephcsible 4y ago
  We should target industries where going 100% green only increases costs and doesn't result in a worse product or service, e.g., switching power plants from fossil fuels to renewables.
yakshaving_jgt 4y ago

tbossanova 4y ago

Which part of the “big industries” would you target first, in order to make a bigger impact than the 2% that air travel represents?

dopidopHN 4y ago
Electricity production with coal. From the top of my head is a two digit number, but I’m currently suffering from the aforementioned jetlag… so let check with that French guy jancovisi. He has a utterly pragmatic approch. https://jancovici.com/en/climate-change/ghgs-and-us/how-do-greenhouse-gas-emissions-presently-evolve/ https://jancovici.com/en/climate-change/ghgs-and-us/how-do-g... See : « CO2 emissions by activity since 1971 » Transports comes third after power, and industrie.
shmel 4y ago
Oh, there are plenty. First of all, actual energy production with fossil fuel. Second, better insulation/ventilation of existing houses to reduce heating/AC costs. While we are at it, we can fit solar panels on roofs, it will give us more electricity hence less fossil fuel to burn. Electric cars too, the tech is already there. Steel production (and other heavy industry) accounts for 8% of global emissions afaik. Meat production estimates vary a lot: from 9% to 35% or so. I know it is very controversial, but I'd rather go vegan than give up air travel.
LightG 4y ago
As per someone above: ">emissions tend to do more damage at high altitude than they do at ground level I've always been a bit dismissive of aviation as a carbon emissions contributor because globally it only accounts for around 2%. Thanks for pointing this out, I was unaware of this fact. Is the relationship between altitude and warming effect known? Are we talking linear or something worse?"
josephcsible 4y ago
We should target industries where going 100% green only increases costs and doesn't result in a worse product or service, e.g., switching power plants from fossil fuels to renewables.

yakshaving_jgt 4y ago