[blondie9x]

To all, because governments have mostly failed us on quick action I created a climate pledge. It is open to feedback but I think starting with individual commitments and sustainable lifestyles will help us move society forward as a whole.

Governments are not moving quickly enough on climate change with small incremental changes over time. However, people and organizations who champion these efforts can pressure governments to drive faster change.

Climate Pledge

To protect humanity now and for the future of our posterity I am committing to the following.

- I pledge to limit eating red meat. I will restrict intake of cows and lambs etc.

- If I choose to have children, I will have 2 or less.

- I will try to use cycling or mass transit options whenever possible and to participate in efforts to expand transit.

- I will restrict flying to only when necessary and try to limit flying to only when no other choice is available. If I do fly I will try to offset all emissions.

- I will try my utmost to conserve energy and minimize use of heating and cooling appliances.

- I will try my best to limit energy use to renewable sources when I have the choice. When I cannot choose I will fight for the ability to have this choice.

- I will try to help those close to me understand these choices and the need for those able, to also join the pledge.

- I will only consume what I need. I will not perpetuate extravagance and will only support companies who champion sustainable efforts.

- I will do my best to strive for and support sustainable and minimalist technology.

- I will stay involved in the public discourse on environmental issues and stay engaged on efforts to mitigate climate change.

[magnamerc]

I don't want to discourage you, because everything counts, but I think the real problem with climate change isn't in the West, it's in the rest of the world. The West had the luxury of using cheap carbon in the early 20th century to industrialize and build out infrastructure. India and countries in Africa haven't had that luxury, therefore they are going to use as much carbon as is necessary to industrialize. It would be hypocritical for Westerners to criticize them for it. The only way to change that is if Western countries governments actively exported low-carbon tech to help them leap-frog a centralized power distribution network and go straight to in-situ decentralized power generation without it affecting their rising quality of life. This is a societal, market economics and technological problem. Cutting out meat won't help nearly as much as developing lab grown meat will. Rather than attempt to change individual behaviors, we should strive to make low carbon technologies that align with existing behaviors.

[RockIslandLine]

"It would be hypocritical for Westerners to criticize them for it."

I'm not fully convinced. When you know better, you do better. And we now know better.

"A did a stupid thing to achieve X result, therefore B must be allowed to do the same stupid thing" is not a great argument.

There's more than one way to create economic value.

[magnamerc]

In countries like the DRC or Nigeria, with large oil and natural gas reserves, who are we to tell them that they can no longer exploit those reserves for their benefit? If we don't want oil and gas to be extracted for wealth, then we need to force market dynamics in such a way as to make the exploitation of oil and gas unprofitable worldwide. We have zero moral authority on dictating what these countries can and cannot do with their own resources

[blondie9x]

Where did I ever say this pledge was only for the West? This is for all individuals world wide.

[Etheryte]

For those wondering about the relative impact of each bullet, [1] is a quick starting point down a rabbit-hole that goes very deep.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wynes_Nicholas_CO2_emissi...

[nsporillo]

Sure if one is counting just their personal impact, but in reality the developing nations will have no problem replacing you and the children you choose to not have with their own and it'll be a wash. Those resources don't disappear, the market will move them around.

Is the argument to have less kids to save the planet not just population control propaganda?

[Etheryte]

For context, I'm very neutral on the matter so take the following as just a musing on the topic. I'm not really familiar with the stats here, so do pardon if I'm starkly mistaken, but it would seem intuitive that having a child in countries A and B would have a different impact based on how developed countries A and B are. If a kid from A grows up to own a car, fly around etc, and the kid from B cannot afford to, the footprint difference between these two individuals would be considerable. This is obviously only looking at a single child, how the fact that people in more developed countries tend to have less children plays into this and pushes the balance one or the other way is unclear.

[blondie9x]

Did I say this wasn’t for developing nations? This pledge is for everyone. All people from all places worldwide.

[nsporillo]

Call me cynical, but suppose 300 million westerners decided to stick to this pledge. What is stopping those newly freed up resources from being consumed by the remaining 7.4+ billion?

Cratering energy prices makes it more affordable for developing nations to rapidly industrialize which is a one way street towards massive emissions until a sustainable solution is realized.

Climate Policy is a classic example of how the prisoner's dilemma can cause a tragedy of the commons. I personally don't see how it can be solved in a world where there is intense competition.

[jdnenej]

America loves blowing up stuff. They can just threaten to destroy anywhere that doesn't meet the environmental targets

[blondie9x]

I don’t get it? Where did I ever say westerners? This is for everyone. Not sure how you came to the conclusion I was focusing only on westerners.

[andbberger]

I mean if it makes you feel better... but the culpability for climate change does NOT lie with individuals. Sweeping systemic changes are our only way out of this mess.

[jdnenej]

Individual action is the only thing you have direct control over. Yes, governments need to change for success but it's better to do everything in your ability to improve rather than sit around and wait for change to happen.

I think if everyone was doing their best to conserve, they would be a lot more upset when they see others and corporations undoing their good work. Right now it's hard to judge others for doing the same thing we do but on a bigger scale.

[08-15]

> I will do my best to strive for and support sustainable and minimalist technology.

Start by not using the internet. Thank you in the name of 7bn humans.