I just really don't get this. It's "gotcha" thinking and "if they don't live perfect austerie lifestyles they cannot change climate policies".
Leave out that High Ranking government officials travel with security, press, aides, etc. Yes it's wasteful, but it's likely the safest, fastest and easiest method to gather decision makers. It's such the long tail of carbon output on the climate emergency.
Additionally, these ministers _should_ be representative (Yes, I am aware that is abstracted in the EU). It doesn't matter who they are personally, they are representing their constituents.
Do I wish that each official would show up by bicycle, sailboat, carbon neutral balloon, train, etc? Indeed I do - and the more whimsical the better. Because it would be theater, but theater is an important part of governance. Having the ministers sacrifice sends a message.
But much more important is what they vote for, what they advocate, what policies they affect - as that is what will move the needle on a better or worse world.
But the real reason I might wish they take the bus is that it just provides this fodder for doing nothing. For other blowhards to point and use this as just another excuse to twiddle our thumbs until the extreme crisis arrives.
Until Al Gore personally delivers organically grown sustainable vegetables to every human on the planet, let's not change industrial policies, taxation, energy plans or researching funding. Let's concentrate on the theater and hypocrisy first, and leave the attainable, sustainable long term profitable policy changes for our grandchildren (fingers crossed there is still a democratic institution around as the world's greatest migration and refugee crisis encircles the planet).
Btw - Google tells me blood boils around the same as water - 100 C. I don't quite see those temperatures occurring, but it will sure feel like it on, say the Indian Subcontinent. Good thing no one lives there!
How exactly is an expectation of consistent messaging regarding policy "gotcha" thinking? I also don't see anywhere where it's being suggested that politicians need to live "perfect austere lifestyles." This is a false dichotomy. There is no reason they couldn't book business class on the train.
> Leave out that High Ranking government officials travel with security, press, aides, etc. Yes it's wasteful, but it's likely the safest, fastest and easiest method to gather decision makers
I don't understand this. I'm accustomed that the conditions, environment, the supervisors make it more difficult for me to perform my work tasks. Why this worry to enable the officials to do they job?
The only reason the parliament even meets in Strasbourg is because France was upset. Because Brussels was chosen as the seat of the EU instead of Paris.
> safest, fastest and easiest method
Many thousands of companies had to move their communications online due to the pandemic, which is the safest, fastest and easiest method to communicate.
There are plenty of European politicians not demanding action against climate change, how are you so sure the ones on this plane are the ones demanding action against climate change?
Action against climate change is urgently needed, so please don’t get angry at anybody trying to bring it about.
But there is a definite problem with a demand for personal action, it is both ineffective and usually hypocritical like in the way you suggested.
We absolutely need to demand that all companies and institutions get to carbon neutral or negative status in the products or services they offer.
Every individual can do their part if they want but that’s mostly to feel good, any real progress can only come from the goods/service providers fixing their offers (and that might need all sorts of legislation and incentives to get going, whatever it takes).
I agree with this, but that's what makes this hypocrisy so particularly galling. These politicians are in the unique position to write legislation (or at least influence legislation) that could prevent shit like this, like requiring a longer minimum flight distance, or prohibiting schedules like this where one leg is empty.
Totally agree, appealing to personal action (beyond voting really) is largely a "feel good exercise", but that's not the case for politicians in their official capacity.
My blood boils on receiving the bamboo or papper drink straw, which immediately soaks and becomes useless. Wonder if they use them on these flights that would surely help limiting the carbon footprint.
Our local cinema removed plastic straws before any ban came in, it was a market led thing thanks to public concern, politicians eventually followed what the market and public already demanded. Difficult to blame them.
I have a bag of 1000 plastic straws, at current consumption that will last me about 200 years.
It's climate change passive aggressiveness. You are provided with a tool which turns useless the moment you start using it. Oh, and nearby there is magazine with ranking of the most expensive yachts in the world, and of airlines by most comfortable first class.
Leave out that High Ranking government officials travel with security, press, aides, etc. Yes it's wasteful, but it's likely the safest, fastest and easiest method to gather decision makers. It's such the long tail of carbon output on the climate emergency.
Additionally, these ministers _should_ be representative (Yes, I am aware that is abstracted in the EU). It doesn't matter who they are personally, they are representing their constituents.
Do I wish that each official would show up by bicycle, sailboat, carbon neutral balloon, train, etc? Indeed I do - and the more whimsical the better. Because it would be theater, but theater is an important part of governance. Having the ministers sacrifice sends a message.
But much more important is what they vote for, what they advocate, what policies they affect - as that is what will move the needle on a better or worse world.
But the real reason I might wish they take the bus is that it just provides this fodder for doing nothing. For other blowhards to point and use this as just another excuse to twiddle our thumbs until the extreme crisis arrives.
Until Al Gore personally delivers organically grown sustainable vegetables to every human on the planet, let's not change industrial policies, taxation, energy plans or researching funding. Let's concentrate on the theater and hypocrisy first, and leave the attainable, sustainable long term profitable policy changes for our grandchildren (fingers crossed there is still a democratic institution around as the world's greatest migration and refugee crisis encircles the planet).
Btw - Google tells me blood boils around the same as water - 100 C. I don't quite see those temperatures occurring, but it will sure feel like it on, say the Indian Subcontinent. Good thing no one lives there!