The coronavirus reveals in stark terms the limits of our personal choices to affect climate change.
Carbon dioxide emissions reductions are a result of global lockdowns ― not the result of considered environmental policies ― and as such they have required huge, unsustainable levels of sacrifice.
We have long been told that individual actions are key to solving the climate crisis. Put another way, carbon calculators, marketing campaigns and even major news outlets have convinced us that we are the ones to blame for climate change because we buy things, we have kids, we fly and we drive and we are, by nature, shortsighted.
Because here’s the thing: despite what the fossil fuel industry has been saying for decades, theirs is not in fact the only demand-side market in the world. Yes, we consume energy via transportation and heating or cooling our homes, or at the corporate level through various industrial processes. But the fossil fuel industry also regularly looks for and creates new markets for its wares.
Even if consumers make very different choices and get extremely good at conserving energy, fossil fuel companies will find ways to stay in the carbon business as long as they possibly can.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trump’s Plan to Solve Coronavirus Crisis Is to Give Rich People Another Tax CutIt was probably inevitable that Republicans would decide that their solution to this particular problem would be their solution to every problem. jonathanchait writes
Read more »
Bank of England holds interest rates but says it is ready for further stimulusThe Bank of England on Thursday held interest rates at 0.1% but said it stands ready to take further action should the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic continue to deteriorate.
Read more »
British Spy Arm Takes Action On 160,000 Suspicious COVID-19 EmailsGCHQ praises the public for taking swift action on the exploitative actions of coronavirus fraudsters.
Read more »
Kate Middleton Launches New Photo Project That Reflects ‘Bravery, Kindness’ amid CoronavirusKate Middleton has teamed up with the National Portrait Gallery to find the most compelling portraits that capture life amid the coronavirus pandemic crisis
Read more »
I Gave Birth During the COVID-19 Pandemic, and It Was Anything But NormalAs an ER doctor, Leana Wen, MD, feels comfortable in health care settings. But she just gave birth to her second child -- and it was anything but normal. She shares her experience and the important thing she wants other expectant parents to remember:
Read more »