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by spodek 2523 days ago
I hope people use this news to motivate changing their behavior. Of course we want governments, corporations, and other institutions to act. History shows that the fastest most effective way is for each of us to start first.

Even if disaster is inevitable, there are degrees of disaster and even individual actions can reduce suffering later.

The biggest thing I see everyone getting wrong about the environment is that acting on one's environmental values is a burden or chore. I used to think so, but found doing so improved my life, despite my expectations before acting.

Flying less, cutting out animal food, avoiding packaged food, etc. . . Now that I do them, I wish I had changed earlier.
1 comments
abalone 2523 days ago
> Of course we want governments, corporations, and other institutions to act. History shows that the fastest most effective way is for each of us to start first.

Exactly what history shows this? Every major case of social change I can think of (civil rights, women's rights, labor rights, what environmental regulations we have) has happened through mass movements not independent individual choices.

The time is for collective action on this. @GretaThunberg has been quite articulate about the need for immediate systemic change not just personal choices. Also, great news today, thanks to action on the part of @sunrisemvmt CNN will host a climate-focused Democratic primary debate. Movements can change what is "possible".

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squirrelicus 2523 days ago
You're over estimating how much impact the West has on climate change.

https://ourworldindata.org/co2-and-other-greenhouse-gas-emis...

There's only one solution that is known to be practical and based on non speculative approaches: nuclear fission power. And we have to do it globally. Even if emissions in the West drop to zero yesterday, it won't matter.

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abalone 2523 days ago
Your own source disagrees with you. It clearly shows the US is the top cumulative CO2 producer and one of the highest annually.
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vastoi 2521 days ago
Right? The link also indicates that the US is one of the highest per capita emitters as well.
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