I often feel that all of these “personal responsibility” initiatives are distractions from passing a carbon tax as well. Polluters have a long history of campaigning for personal responsibility solutions so they can continue polluting (going back to the “Crying Indian” ad in the 70s). Of course I think everyone should lower their carbon footprint, but we’re never going to come close without carbon tax and border adjustments. Of course if you’re writing your legislators regularly to advocate for a carbon tax and writing Green Software or eating vegan or whatever, then great, but by far the best use of your time is contacting your politicians.
Similarly, I suspect polluters love the Democrats’ climate policy or even the Green New Deal which would have tax-payers spend trillions on programs that are tenuously related to climate (“climate justice”) rather than inhibiting polluters or making them foot the bill. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think the Republicans would do better, but it’s really hard to see us spend trillions and not take climate seriously, all the whole smugly bragging about how we’re the ones who believe scientists.
Similarly, I suspect polluters love the Democrats’ climate policy or even the Green New Deal which would have tax-payers spend trillions on programs that are tenuously related to climate (“climate justice”) rather than inhibiting polluters or making them foot the bill. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think the Republicans would do better, but it’s really hard to see us spend trillions and not take climate seriously, all the whole smugly bragging about how we’re the ones who believe scientists.