• Sunshine (she/her)@lemmy.caEnglish
    2·
    2 days ago

    The “actual solution” is several large economy-wide industry-scale structural changes to manufacturing and transportation. That’s what we’ve seen in every country that successfully reduced their carbon emissions.

    You’re leaving out a crucial component. The societal shift to a plant-based diet.

    I don’t care how “small” my climate actions are, I’m going to keep doing them as it’s my personal responsibility and to show others there is a better way of doing things. We need to stop expecting silverbullets to every problem we face in life as that stunts our growth.

    A lot of people say “don’t do anything better because the rich ride private jets!” however that makes their behaviour more permissible since if we can’t be clean ourselves how the hell are we going to convince enough people to hold them accountable at some point for their climate recklessness. We need to ingrain the values of sustainability in people.

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.worldEnglish
      11·
      2 days ago

      The societal shift to a plant-based diet.

      That’s a consequence of economy-wide, industrial-scale change. Greater cultivation and distribution of fresh greens, gords, beans, etc. Fewer subsidies and natural resources diverted to feedstock and livestock. When a major component of our greenhouse gas emissions comes from alfalfa exported to feed Saudi livestock on the other side of the planet, you need hundreds of Californians to turn vegan in order to net the benefit of one Saudi aristocrat.

      A lot of people say “don’t do anything better because the rich ride private jets!”

      I’m not saying “Don’t do anything”. I’m saying “Don’t be the sin-eater for other people’s crimes”.

      If you want to shift the planet away from meat, you can’t just settle on opening up a can of beans. You need to petition to stop dumping half your state’s water reserve into growing macadamia nuts for Mark Zuckerberg’s Texas cattle ranching hobby.

      • Sunshine (she/her)@lemmy.caEnglish
        21·
        2 days ago

        you need hundreds of Californians to turn vegan in order to net the benefit of one Saudi aristocrat.

        Which can inspired by one person whether they be a friend or family member. People need to be provided with good examples around them to do better. Incremental change is what leads to societal change.