[ArchStanton]

Considering that the US share of greenhouse gases is fairly small (15% of world total), has decreased quite a lot over time, and becomes harder on the margin, I'd say it's mostly just slinging words for political power at this point.

My own take is that you can avoid ecological devastation only through population reduction and in the short term by not up-leveling the Third World via mass immigration and industrialization.

[syvolt]

Very hard sell for the "Third World" when rich westerners tell them to stop trying to reach for their heights.

Almost like pulling the ladder from under us after we're at the top. Doubt it would mean anything unless it's backed by sanctions, military action or intelligence operations to topple governments that attempt to pull their countries out of poverty. That would make us decisively "the bad guys", regardless of motive.

[ArchStanton]

That may be, but is it better to be 'fair' or to save the world's ecology? The coral reefs don't much care if some places are poorer than others.

Perhaps one answer would be to allow people to swap citizenships. If you are feeling guilty enough, you could move to Lagos and someone there could move to Palo Alto.

[evilolive]

The US GHG per capita remains one of the highest in the world, so things can be improved.

[ArchStanton]

That's an argument that stems more from a concept of 'fairness' than one that might save the world.

[evilolive]

Not a world saving solution, just adding necessary context around the “fairly small” comment.

[PretzelPirate]

> only through population reduction…

Since this would necessitate birth control, it would be in direct conflict with the beliefs of the Catholic Church and couldn’t be supported by the Pope.

[ArchStanton]

To be fair, US Catholics appear to have roughly the same birthrate as US Evangelical Protestants, although that might change as Catholic demographics shift to Latino.

What we (the world) will be awash in is Moslems and sub Saharan Africans unless those curves get bent via behavior changes, resource depletion, or war. I can't say that the Pope is much involved in that situation.

[ethbr0]

> I can't say that the Pope is much involved in that situation

Like the 15% of (mostly-sub Saharan) Africa that identifies as Catholic? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_in_Africa

[ArchStanton]

That's a good point, but do Catholics account for more than their share of births in Nigeria (5.5 children per woman, or, as we say in the brave new world, 'people who menstruate')?

hah. Partly answered.

https://paa2015.princeton.edu/papers/151197

[angelzen]

You are not following The Science close enough. It's bodies. "Bodies with vaginas".

https://twitter.com/TheLancet/status/1441372277786951681