Climate change

GHGs (greenhouse gases, such as CO₂) are the gases that cause climate change. This is a pie chart of where they come from.


Note that a large chunk of emissions are a function of how much new "stuff" people buy: See sub-sections of the pie, related to: industry (producing materials, manufacturing), agriculture, and transporting goods. 💬 discussion Also, "fugitive emissions from energy production" are directly a function of how much natural gas is used in all the other pieces of the pie. In any case, maybe this pie chart isn't divided up in a relevant enough way to illustrate which emissions are driven by what. I'm thinking of making a new one (using mostly the same data sources that the people who made this one used). Elie (talk) 10:59, 7 February 2025 (EST)

Other major factors include heating buildings and driving cars.

See also: This other pie chart that shows energy usage in more detail (but doesn't include non-energy emissions).

Note that half of emissions come from the richest 10% of the world. This includes most people who live in "first world" countries.

Climate change is mostly caused by burning fossil fuels for energy - and to a lesser extent, by today's agriculture.

• But note: Agriculture has other major environmental impacts too, besides just climate change.

Solutions we ultimately need ✊🏻✊🏽✊🏿

• Replace ALL fossil fuel energy, with renewables and/or nuclear power
  • Not technologically feasible, currently.
    • Would become more feasible if the demand for energy (and vehicles) was lower. This is quite viable, as long as people in first-world discussion "first-world", for lack of a better terminology
      
      Talk: I didn't want to say "developed countries" here, because a less experienced person reading quickly might mistake it for "developing countries" (which is the opposite of what I'm trying to convey). I also didn't want to say "rich countries" because some people might mistakenly think their country isn't rich enough for it to apply to them. So I'm stuck using an old, somewhat improper term: "first-world countries". countries are willing to make some lifestyle changes:
      • We can still have nice things, just not replace them so often
      • Reduce the need for driving
• Some lifestyle changes are still needed even if we phase out fossil fuels:
  • Stop food waste
  • Make the food supply more plant-based (does not require 100% veganism)
  • ↑ These are needed to prevent deforestation. See why.

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