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Originally Posted by heep223
The best way to curb our impact on the planet is by staying closer to home and reducing consumption. Personally. Less air travel, less consumption of goods in general, and purchasing local food and product so it doesn't have to travel far. Also better planned cities and transit. Everyone who is passionate about climate change, are you willing to cancel that vacation because it adds to your carbon footprint? Pay 50% more for food that hasn't been trucked up from California? Take the bus to get groceries instead of drive?
The big untold story in my view on this, is even if N America, Europe and Japan made all these sweeping changes to address climate change...it's not nearly enough. The problem is that the vast majority of the global population doesn't give a rats ass about the planet, because they're just struggling to get by day to day and feed their families. It's the hierarchy of needs - developed countries care, because we have our basic needs met. Until the rest of the world is in the same position, nothing will change. Have you ever been to China? The place is a giant garbage dump. Burning coal all over the place. India? Garbage everywhere, in the streets, in the fields. Brazil? Well just google "Brazil Olympics health concerns". Russia? Pfft. These countries pay lip service and set targets and everything but it's just international political posturing. Until they can meet the basic needs of their populations nothing will ultimately change enough in the world to reverse the damage.
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It's a bit like Westerners getting upset at poaching in a third world country. We don't want those pretty animinals to disappear, but Joe Blow who has a family of 8 in Rwanda has no means of making money or feeding his family if he doesn't shoot that gorilla, or burn some habitat for farming.