Stop climate change
Fossil fuels are still the world's main energy source, and still the main cause of climate change.
- We need to switch to other energy sources, but:
- They each have their own limitations and environmental impacts as well. So we also need to not use so much energy in the first place. Not the old "save energy by turning off the lights" rhetoric which misses the big picture. Most of the world's energy usage is actually for:
- Producing & transporting goods (i.e. stuff people buy)
- Driving cars
- Heating & cooling homes / buildings
Things we must do
Reduce the need for driving
Produce less stuff
Electronics
Even though agriculture isn't the biggest source of carbon emissions, it is the biggest destroyer of wildlife. We need to feed the world using less resources:
- Stop food waste
- Stop biofuels
- Make the food supply more plant-based
- Improve crop yields in some cases
Other
- Stop home waste
- Make clothes last longer? discussion Need to distinguish between "they should manufacture stuff better quality" (which might actually have a higher environmental footprint in some cases), vs "how make your clothes last longer even when they're cheap. Repair, take care, etc." (which is probably what we really need. Some of it is lifestyle choices, but I bet some systemic changes could help too, like better access to tools for repairs, and more education on how to use them).
Note: Systemic changes are probably not enough without some lifestyle changes. A lot of middle-class people still have to choose to consume less, in some ways.
discussion TO DO: Add specific examples of wasteful consumption habits. Talk about how to do better.
discussion Half of emissions come from the richest 10% of the world. This includes most people who live in "first world" countries.
We can still have nice things, just not replace them so often.
Heating & cooling
We're still discussing what solutions are really suitable for the average home or building. Join the discussion.