This is a lovely challenge and I too have been reducing my carbon footprint. Have you looked at the three charities that have been researched by GWWC? https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/research/other-causes/climate-change/
The research is still not conclusive on the effectiveness since it's so new but it may be a good starting point.
As Prof of Climate Science, Kevin Anderson puts it, we are choosing failure when it comes to climate change (https://youtu.be/jIODRrnHQxg).
But - we needn't go down without a fight.
My family has changed lots of habits to reduce our GHG emissions - but it's not enough. So, today, we calculated a pledged to pay a self-imposed tax - mainly to atone for our international flying. The full story is here on my own website where I post random bullshit periodically (the latest being chit chat about the books I'm reading during all the free time I have now that I've given up reddit for lent):
http://www.lauramariereese.com/reddit-fast-day-6-self-imposed-carbon-taxes/
And here's the tl;dr:
What to Pay?
Looking at carbon tax rates around the world, governments impose any where from ~$3 to $100 per ton. Various online carbon footprint / offset calculators propose between $15 and $30 per ton. I'm going with $30 a ton. Cuz - well, it feels about right.
Who to Pay?
I like NRDC. But who else? I don’t want to give money to some organization that writes some nice sounding words about the environment, only to line the pockets of the executive board. I want our money to actually go toward reducing emissions and/or pulling green house gasses out of the atmosphere.
‘Green Travel Resources‘ suggest companies such as The Conservation Fund and some small British outfit that plants trees in Kenya. Ooh! I’ve got an idea: Earthling Ed and Bite Sized Vegan on Patreon.
$5 a month is now going to Earthling Ed‘s Patreon account and $5 a month to Bite Size Vegan. For every person they inspire – to transition from a standard western diet to a strictly vegan diet – humanity cuts a ton of CO2 per year.
Now that I’m having an honest-to-goodness look-see – it’s estimated that average CO2 per person needs to be below 2.5 tons a year. Our family – including air travel plus all other living activities – even taking into account our veganism and lack of a car – we’re responsible for an estimated 12.5 tons each. That’s 10 tons over budget, or 30 tons total. 30x$30 = $900. $75 a month.
Okay, that means that so far I’m giving $25 a month or $300 a year, but I need to pay $50 per month more. Who to give to?
$15 / mo ($180 /yr) – National Resources Defense Council
$ 5 / mo ($60 / yr) – Earthling Ed
$ 5 / mo ($60 / yr) – Bite Sized Vegan
$__/ mo ($___ / yr) – ________________
...
So I have two questions:
1. Who should I send the other $50 a month to?
2. Will you join me? Calculate your CO2 equiv emissions in excess of 2.5 tons a year, and tax yourself. Choose a rate anywhere from $3/ton (you freakin' turd) to $100/ton (you freakin' martyr).
I took a slightly different slant on emissions and self-taxation. I worked out my estimated carbon emissions, including transport, then installed enough solar to offset this through electricity export. I have a pv system about three times what I need for my own energy use as a result. Not a great return on investment for the export, but it achieves a carbon offset that I have control and transparency of.Very nice. I know of another person that does this same thing. We do have a PV system but that is right sized for us.
This is a lovely challenge and I too have been reducing my carbon footprint. Have you looked at the three charities that have been researched by GWWC? https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/research/other-causes/climate-change/
The research is still not conclusive on the effectiveness since it's so new but it may be a good starting point.
I took a slightly different slant on emissions and self-taxation. I worked out my estimated carbon emissions, including transport, then installed enough solar to offset this through electricity export. I have a pv system about three times what I need for my own energy use as a result. Not a great return on investment for the export, but it achieves a carbon offset that I have control and transparency of.Very nice. I know of another person that does this same thing. We do have a PV system but that is right sized for us.
Train was often the best choice.
Trains in Europe are nearly all electric, especially the long distance high-speed ones.Train was often the best choice.
Don't be fooled by the train idea. Trains are more efficient per pound of CO2, but they're all diesel and diesel is super dirty with particulates and NOx emissions. Diesel actually kills tens of thousands of people (mostly asthmatics) per year by just destroying the air quality in population centers.
CO2 emissions are still a problem, but they're not literally immediate murder. Diesel engines are evil, full stop.
but at 27min in, she says some real sobering stuff (https://youtu.be/6hhL93BVU_E?t=27m5s). I'd be running around like my hair was on fire
Trains in Europe are nearly all electric, especially the long distance high-speed ones.
Trains in Europe are nearly all electric, especially the long distance high-speed ones.Train was often the best choice.
Don't be fooled by the train idea. Trains are more efficient per pound of CO2, but they're all diesel and diesel is super dirty with particulates and NOx emissions. Diesel actually kills tens of thousands of people (mostly asthmatics) per year by just destroying the air quality in population centers.
CO2 emissions are still a problem, but they're not literally immediate murder. Diesel engines are evil, full stop.
but at 27min in, she says some real sobering stuff (https://youtu.be/6hhL93BVU_E?t=27m5s). I'd be running around like my hair was on fire
The entire global carbon cycle field is depressing. Most people tend to think about it like a business's balance sheets, with quarterly ins and outs that result in a net balance, but in reality it's more like a human being's body weight with daily ins and outs that result in fatness.
A business can go from profit to loss overnight, but you don't get fat in a single financial quarter. You get fat slowly, over years, by making bad lifestyle choices. You also don't get healthy by being vegan for a week, or by cutting out ice cream while eating pizza with your Netflix. Getting healthy takes years of hard work in every aspect of your life, to undo all of that accumulated damage.
The global carbon cycle is a fat person that lives forever, and it just spent 200 years injecting lard with an IV. It will literally take tens of thousands of years to naturally remove our emissions since the industrial revolution. A 100% carbon-free economy would only turn off the IV. We're still fucked.
Don't get me wrong, it's an absolutely vital first step. I don't mean to discourage positive steps, but it's important to realistically identify just how bad we've already made things if we're going to propose a serious path for our descendants to follow. With any luck humanity will still be here in ten thousand years, and I would like their planet to be a habitable one.
In Europe you'd get the diesel fumes from all the "clean" VW TDIs. I like some of Europe's differences transportation-wise too, but they're not perfect.Trains in Europe are nearly all electric, especially the long distance high-speed ones.Train was often the best choice.
Don't be fooled by the train idea. Trains are more efficient per pound of CO2, but they're all diesel and diesel is super dirty with particulates and NOx emissions. Diesel actually kills tens of thousands of people (mostly asthmatics) per year by just destroying the air quality in population centers.
CO2 emissions are still a problem, but they're not literally immediate murder. Diesel engines are evil, full stop.
Eek! Did not know about the NOx thing with trains. There’s just no winning with the US transport system! Wish I lived in Europe with those electric trains.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I'm in, using Bonneville Environmental Foundation RECs and offsets: http://store.b-e-f.org/make-a-purchase. Thought about doing this last year, but simply didn't.
What tool are you using for calculating emissions? EPA's Carbon Footprint tool (https://www3.epa.gov/carbon-footprint-calculator/) says my annual CO2e is 11,446 lbs, but they use defaults for waste (and I hardly have any waste, put a small trash bag out about once a month).
I’m enjoying your current series in your blog. Very thought provoking. Thanks for writing and sharing.
Ok, @Malaysia41. I’m in!
My first planet-saving act will be... riding the bus to this evening’s art event / social gathering. As someone who drives periodically, this will save emissions. No $ savings due to bus fare, therefore a purely ecological decision. This thread is already affecting my life.
Going forward, I will:
1. Look for more opportunities to save on CO2 emissions rather than $ in daily life.
2. Articulate things I already do.
3. Start biking more.
4. Explore possible solar install on house.
5. Work my way through the other home projects that are scheduled before solar.
6. Return to exploring purchase of carbon credits.
7. Explore some of the other options mentioned on this thread.
8. Attempt to reach zero net CO2 emissions going forward by year end. This goal assumes that I will accept some type of offset at a portion of claimed CO2 offset value, and purchase enough offset to balance out my remaining CO2 emissions.
Thanks for your offer libertarian, but I'll pass. We already limit our flying to the bare minimum for now For example, this summer - we'll take the train to Germany rather than fly. And when we went to Ischia last summer, we took the train rather than airplane. Because it's way better for the environment.
We already don't buy shit we don't need, hang dry our clothes, don't eat any animal products, and we bike everywhere. We don't own a car. I work from home, so does DH. Well- if you count dickin' around living off of savings as 'working'. No - I don't feel terribly guilty. But flights are way too cheap. They should be far more expensive. So I'm making them expensive.
My carbon footprint is just over half of the average American's, and TBH, I think it's less than that as we live in Europe. Anyway, even by our US estimate, our carbon footprint isn't much higher than a homeless American who eats at soup kitchens. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080428120658.htm
So you'll be happy that since last posting, I've given another $5 a month to the veganuary organization! $45 more per month to go. I don't mind taking my time to donate where I think it'll help the most.
Enjoy modifying your F150 in spite of me! If the world needs anything, it's more dickwads rollin' coal! (/s- seriously can you *believe* people actually roll coal??? WTF?)... Actually the world needs more dickwads eating less meat. You're knocking it out of the park by most other measures. Kudos. Sincerely. Where are you on the eating meat score?
(https://i.imgur.com/vWpGbfJm.png)
... another way of looking at the unsustainable amount of livestock (and humans) in the world today:
(https://www.survival.org.au/images/world-terrestrial-vertebrate-biomass.jpg)
Hopefully we're like algae, where at some point, after consuming too many non-renewable resources, we suffer and go from 7+ billion people to some lower number.
But I suspect we're more like fermentation yeast - where after consuming too many resources, our waste products rise to toxic levels for some life-critical biochemical processes, and it kills us all.
@Malaysia41, if this thread departs from discussion of individual actions into general enviro-discussion, you won't mind a positive-minded contribution, will you?
@Malaysia41, if this thread departs from discussion of individual actions into general enviro-discussion, you won't mind a positive-minded contribution, will you?
You do see the irony inherent in this contradiction, though, right?
Any individual actions that a wealthy American might take, like installing solar panels or buying carbon offsets, are clearly ridiculous attempts to amend for the extravagant lifestyles we lead. While I invested $30k into solar panels for my US roof, that money could have been used to install 10 times as much capacity in rural Africa, where small amounts of renewable electricity can have enormous impacts on quality of life while simultaneously offsetting dirtier energy sources than my northwest grid hydropower. My decision to go solar was purely a selfish one, to make ME feel better about my environmental impact, not to actually make the environment better. There are always more efficient ways to make the environment better than to reduce your personal consumption.
Al Gore took a lot of flak for this approach, living in a big house and flying around the country to promote his global warming movie, but honestly that movie saved far more emissions by influencing the behavior of millions of people than he could ever produce in a lifetime of personal consumption. He genuinely helped the environment, instead of making himself feel better by just reducing his personal consumption.
@Malaysia41, if this thread departs from discussion of individual actions into general enviro-discussion, you won't mind a positive-minded contribution, will you?
Re algae, I don't think we need a population drop to stop consuming too many non-renewable resources. It is perfectly possible that we will instead learn to be more efficient. We could recycle some (like metals) instead, for example. Also we can develop alternate methods of achieving a given goal, and change our choices through gentler methods (cost pressures, free birth control) prior to experiencing a deprivation-based population decline.
what specific actions would it take to avert the impending 'doom'?
what specific actions would it take to avert the impending 'doom'?
If you think destroying the Earth is bad for the Earth, you can feel better knowing that Earth wouldn't blink if humanity were wiped out tomorrow. It's been here 4.5 billion years and hominids have been here approximately one tenth of one percent of that time. All of recorded history is approximately one thousandth of one thousandth of one percent of that time, and for the vast majority of that tiny sliver we hadn't discovered fossil fuels. On the scale of the planet, all of humanity thus far is basically an instantaneous event.
And yes, the ice caps are totally going to melt and the polar bears are all going to die, but let's not forget that there are only a few thousand polar bears anyway and we literally slaughter 40 million cows every single year, just because they are pleasingly delicious. So are we really worried about animal welfare?
Wait, why's the NRA in there? What good do they do for the climate (or from European perspective, what good do they do at all)??
Okay - one of those is bogus. Can you tell which?
When I talk honestly about the situation we're all in, it's typical to jokingly be called a debbie downer or doomsdayer or IDK, 'prepper'? So I act jovial or laugh to lighten the mood. But I'm dead serious.
QuoteRe algae, I don't think we need a population drop to stop consuming too many non-renewable resources. It is perfectly possible that we will instead learn to be more efficient. We could recycle some (like metals) instead, for example. Also we can develop alternate methods of achieving a given goal, and change our choices through gentler methods (cost pressures, free birth control) prior to experiencing a deprivation-based population decline.
Oh yeah -there are A LOT of solutions we could pursue. ... But we're not. We're putting it on individuals to make individual choices.
(snip)
So I'm also not interested in mis-representing our predicament as a below-the-fold human interest (heh) story. It should be the full page headline. And we should be doing everything we can to work together to stop stealing from our kids and our grandkid. We need to stop touching the principal. I don't see that happening. I could write here what I think it would take, but instead I'll ask you - what specific actions would it take to avert the impending 'doom'?
edit2: Ah, 2008 - the year that Newt and Nancy filmed this 30 second spot on climate change. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi6n_-wB154 ... soon after, the GOP took a hard turn away from ecological enlightenment. :(. The few Republicans who advocated for carbon taxes and reducing GHG emissions - folks like Rep Bob Inglis from S.C. - got swept from office as tea partiers filled the ranks of the house. But Mr. Catton advises we not look for villains. It's hard not to see them everywhere these days though. Shit - I'm brooding again. I was feeling positive. Dang.
I still have $25 a month to allocate to offset my carbon. I want to give it to political campaigns - to elect people who take the science seriously, and have ideas and capability to get us to a point where we embrace policies that protect wild lands, and motivate 1st world humans to use less energy, all while encouraging development of sensible renewables.
Any recommendations?
Wait, why's the NRA in there? What good do they do for the climate (or from European perspective, what good do they do at all)??Okay - one of those is bogus. Can you tell which?
Wait, why's the NRA in there? What good do they do for the climate (or from European perspective, what good do they do at all)??Okay - one of those is bogus. Can you tell which?
heh.
My family has changed lots of habits to reduce our GHG emissions - but it's not enough. So, today, we calculated a pledged to pay a self-imposed tax - mainly to atone for our international flying.
My family has changed lots of habits to reduce our GHG emissions - but it's not enough. So, today, we calculated a pledged to pay a self-imposed tax - mainly to atone for our international flying.
Unfortunately, spending money will not prevent climate change. This reminds me of how in the middle ages certain nobles and merchants decided that they simply couldn't stop sinning, couldn't they just donate to a worthy charity to make up for their sins? The Catholic Church said, "yes, there is indeed a worthy charity: us." And so, indulgences were born. The nobles kept having fun sinning, and the church got richer, everyone was happy!
However, unlike "sin", our carbon emissions have a definite and measurable impact on the world.
Couldn't you just... not fly?
edit2: Ah, 2008 - the year that Newt and Nancy filmed this 30 second spot on climate change. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi6n_-wB154 ... soon after, the GOP took a hard turn away from ecological enlightenment. :(. The few Republicans who advocated for carbon taxes and reducing GHG emissions - folks like Rep Bob Inglis from S.C. - got swept from office as tea partiers filled the ranks of the house. But Mr. Catton advises we not look for villains. It's hard not to see them everywhere these days though. Shit - I'm brooding again. I was feeling positive. Dang.
Senator Whitehouse talks a lot about how Citizens United resulted in the GOP not passing any legislation on climate change. Have you read deeper into this? Here's an interview with him: https://e360.yale.edu/features/how-big-money-in-politics-blocked-u-s-action-on-climate-changeQuoteI still have $25 a month to allocate to offset my carbon. I want to give it to political campaigns - to elect people who take the science seriously, and have ideas and capability to get us to a point where we embrace policies that protect wild lands, and motivate 1st world humans to use less energy, all while encouraging development of sensible renewables.
Any recommendations?
Check out 314. I've been donating monthly over the past year. They are the main grassroots organization on training STEM candidates for political office.
http://www.314action.org/home
And yes Carl is awesome! He is missed :-(
Malaysia41, well done on finishing your self-imposed carbon taxes!
When I talk honestly about the situation we're all in, it's typical to jokingly be called a debbie downer or doomsdayer or IDK, 'prepper'? So I act jovial or laugh to lighten the mood. But I'm dead serious.
For clarity - not asking you to fake it if you think we're doomed. Well aware that you're serious. Just making sure that I'm not required to agree we're all doomed.QuoteRe algae, I don't think we need a population drop to stop consuming too many non-renewable resources. It is perfectly possible that we will instead learn to be more efficient. We could recycle some (like metals) instead, for example. Also we can develop alternate methods of achieving a given goal, and change our choices through gentler methods (cost pressures, free birth control) prior to experiencing a deprivation-based population decline.
Oh yeah -there are A LOT of solutions we could pursue. ... But we're not. We're putting it on individuals to make individual choices.
(snip)
So I'm also not interested in mis-representing our predicament as a below-the-fold human interest (heh) story. It should be the full page headline. And we should be doing everything we can to work together to stop stealing from our kids and our grandkid. We need to stop touching the principal. I don't see that happening. I could write here what I think it would take, but instead I'll ask you - what specific actions would it take to avert the impending 'doom'?
I don't claim to have the Great Recipe For Preventing Climate Change. I just think that in between "we are not doing enough this year to prevent future climate change" and "shit, 6 of the 7 billion humans just died because of climate change", there will be a period when economic scarcity signals drive up the price of non-renewable resources, such that human responses to the price will be fast and effective enough to keep most people from dying. We are far from that day right now, in that the price signals are not yet sufficient to drive common behavior.
I'm on this thread because I think it's a good thing to take the individual actions that we can. As stated upthread, if self imposing a carbon tax can be reasonably thought to work and be quantifiable, I seek by year end to be positioned for a 2019 of zero net carbon emissions. That's more than I would do without this thread, so again, glad you started it.
Soon to come: BicycleB's confession of difficulties with daily habit change, and first steps to move more in that area. Aka, Bicycle starts to report on working through his carbon list.
Don't know if you saw Rand Paul last night, but I think he did a fair job embarrassing Republicans who ran on fiscal conservatism. Glad he did it. Even Fox & Friends was giving him credit this morning saying this bill in conjunction with tax cuts added twice as much to the debt as Obama's stimulus in 2009 that these sames Republicans railed against -- and that at least Obama had an excuse of the financial melt down.
It doesn’t matter LL. In a world where for-profit corporations deliver our news - cult of personality and show biz artifice will win out. In a system where political influence goes to the highest bidder, and unlimited amounts of money are allowed to be spent on push-polling and disinformation campaigns, , how does it matter if one marginalized libertarian (with insane views about people ‘having healthcare’ cuz they can go to an emergency room (but this is beside the pt)). How does it matter what Rand paul says or that the bootlickers on fox and friends momentarily look up from the boot heel of trump and nod in agreement? I will say that it’s interesting to see how many ostensibly republican politicians are willing to go along with the absolute denigration of our country in order to do the bidding of their donors. And those who stand for actual principle - well - they won’t make a bit of difference until our constitution is amended and systematic democratic processes are established.
But ...it’s getting more and more likely that our generation will see NTHE .
And I’m becoming more convinced that our children are highly likely to experience NTHE even if we don’t. Fucking Scott Pruitt saying global warming may be good?
We are FUCKED.
(Good morning!!)
I was going to say you realize I haven't finished my coffee yet, right?
:)
Oxfam-mb-extreme-carbon-inequality-021215-en.pdf (https://d1tn3vj7xz9fdh.cloudfront.net/s3fs-public/file_attachments/mb-extreme-carbon-inequality-021215-en.pdf)
"Fossil fuel interests declare spending €44m a year on lobbying the EU in Brussels – around €120,000 a day. In the US in 2013, the oil, gas and coal industries spent almost $157m on lobbying – over $430,000 per day, or$24,000 per hour. "
88 people are stealing the future from our kids
I really missed getting the feel good morning messages from you. Seriously thanks for sending. So far just looked at the graphs. Seems I am the problem. What specifically is driving that - cars, air travel, steaks, big house
I’ll read the data, but just curious if there were a few drivers or if was general lifestyle stuff?
LA to Barcelona round trip = 3.4tons CO2 per economy class passenger (13.5 tons 1st class)
A gallon of milk: 12.6 lbs CO2
100g of beef or lamb : about 4 lbs CO2
100g pork: about 2 lbs CO2
switching from the std western diet to vegan diet saves ~1 ton CO2 per year
1kg of cement is 1kg CO2.
The average new built 2 bedroom bungalow: 80 tons CO2
Hectare of deforestation: 500 tons (associated with livestock industry)
Driving 1000 miles in a normal car is 1 ton CO2 (including footprint of building car - not only emissions; emissions are ~half that)
Electric car: depends on how much your power grid relies on fossil fuels
DH calls the fossil fuel lobby, their sponsors, and global warming deniers “pedophiles”. Because they’re screwing our children
M41, Thanks for the data. I have a few questions. I’ve heard from you loud and clear we are “fucked.” If all the people (or half the people) like me/us (top 10%) make dramatic changes in their lifestyle does that change anything or has the tipping point been reached?
On housing if you already have one is it pretty much sunk cost? Meaning is it better to get solar panels and good insulation than abandon it? My Tesla is a 100% coal fueled car at this point, but I am looking to get the aforementioned solar panels and change that.
On the other stuff – air travel, beef and milk – I am a huge contributor to CO2. Frankly, I like all three … a lot. Doesn’t mean I can’t or won’t change my choices, but they would be really big changes. Without cooking all food at home, I am not sure how we could go vegan here. My last work flight to Philadelphia is Monday, but Wednesday I will be flying (destination TBD) with my dad to watch the first round NCAA basketball game. We plan to (hopefully) follow (our team) all the way to the Final Four. In April I am flying to (NE town) with DW, DD and my mother-in-law for DD to visit colleges. In the summer we will fly to west coast to visit schools there as well. Point being it would be a tough thing to tell my mother-in-law you can’t see your daughter again because it puts too much CO2 in the atmosphere. Or telling DD she has to pick a college sight unseen, etc….
Obviously, I am making a point being a bit dramatic. I imagine I am more willing to change than most, but it would be a big deal to do so and would be a real inconvenience. I realize the destruction of all human life is inconvenient as well, but to most anyone one is much closer and has obvious impact where the other is at least father away and with a less certain impact. It is a real dilemma. Asking people not to have a once in a lifetime basketball road trip with you ~80 year-old-dad, etc… those are big asks. Maybe the solution is air travel gets way more expensive via a carbon tax which is used to do CO2 neutralizing things (and would also reduce the number of trips people are willing to take). Any solutions?
Going forward, I will:
1. Look for more opportunities to save on CO2 emissions rather than $ in daily life.
2. Articulate things I already do.
3. Start biking more.
4. Explore possible solar install on house.
5. Work my way through the other home projects that are scheduled before solar.
6. Return to exploring purchase of carbon credits.
7. Explore some of the other options mentioned on this thread.
8. Attempt to reach zero net CO2 emissions going forward by year end. This goal assumes that I will accept some type of offset at a portion of claimed CO2 offset value, and purchase enough offset to balance out my remaining CO2 emissions.
If I don't get the confessions started, the thought of how shamefully weak my current efforts are will stop me from posting on the thread again. So here goes.
1. "Mustachian-ish" in my profile means "mechanically inept despite half a century of rare attempts, most of which I did not like" and "just doing the not-choose-the-MOST-expensive option" part... got a long way to go on the Stoic and hands-on pieces.
2. Reviewing my list of This Year's Eco Steps, step 1 is...vague and scary, don't want to change my comfy ways...Going forward, I will:
1. Look for more opportunities to save on CO2 emissions rather than $ in daily life.
2. Articulate things I already do.
3. Start biking more.
4. Explore possible solar install on house.
5. Work my way through the other home projects that are scheduled before solar.
6. Return to exploring purchase of carbon credits.
7. Explore some of the other options mentioned on this thread.
8. Attempt to reach zero net CO2 emissions going forward by year end. This goal assumes that I will accept some type of offset at a portion of claimed CO2 offset value, and purchase enough offset to balance out my remaining CO2 emissions.
3. Item 3 in the list is worse because, well, my screen name is aspirational. As in, I chose it to inspire myself to start bicycling. But after 6 attempts, not really in the bike habit yet.
4. For both daily life and the bike piece, the smart thing to do is bike to the grocery store instead of drive in any cases where the only destination would be the grocery store. But that comes in conflict with the thing that I just about least want to change: MUST HAVE DAILY JUNK FOOD FIX and won't buy more than 1 or 2 days of junk food because I'd just eat even more of it.
That's enough confessions for now.
So ok, since posting the do list, I did avoid 3 junk food trips out of 4 that I would have driven. Made a batch of pancakes instead of going to buy cookies. (First pancakes in 30 years. No milk, either - methane win. Thanks, internet.) Scraped through a day of no junk. Walked to store (1.1 miles each way).
Thanks for sharing Malaysia. Some deep thoughts there.
There's one group of people who raise doubts on AGW I've seen post on Phil Plait's (Bad Astronomy blog) comment section.
https://notalotofpeopleknowthat.wordpress.com/2018/01/19/warmest-year-evah-except-for-the-others/
I'm not skilled enough to sort through their argument but hopefully someone can take their time and point out any flaws.
I like https://skepticalscience.com/ and Katherine Hayhoe's Global Weirding youtube series for a more layman approach. I'll be watching Utopia series soon. I couldn't find it anywhere legit so I had to resort to "other sources".
@Bicycle_B maybe it's time to join my other Throw Down the Gauntlet Challenge: Go Plant-Based (Vegan) Diet in 2018 (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/throw-down-the-gauntlet/who-will-pledge-to-go-vegan-in-january-with-me)
Just thought I'd share since you brought up ongoing issues with junk food.
Thanks for gathering up the courage to confess all here BB! :)
I posted our email exchange in full. It's not pretty. I said his political party was on par with Nazis. yeah - I'm out of the will. IDGAF.
Burning Bridges with Dad (http://www.lauramariereese.com/reddit-fast-day-25-bridge-burning-dad)
I posted our email exchange in full. It's not pretty. I said his political party was on par with Nazis. yeah - I'm out of the will. IDGAF.
Burning Bridges with Dad (http://www.lauramariereese.com/reddit-fast-day-25-bridge-burning-dad)
Do you believe that this is an issue worth severing all family ties for?
I wonder: have you children of your own? If so, do you think it is possible that you may disagree on political issues in the future, when things we think are ordinary and inoffensive are held to be evil and wrong, and things we think are bad are held to be good?
Photo posted today by a homeless charity I sometimes volunteer for, really like this bit and will try to apply it, especially the section I bolded: "No blame, no reasoning, no argument, just understanding. If you understand, and you show that you understand, you can love, and the situation will change."
@Bicycle_B maybe it's time to join my other Throw Down the Gauntlet Challenge: Go Plant-Based (Vegan) Diet in 2018 (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/throw-down-the-gauntlet/who-will-pledge-to-go-vegan-in-january-with-me)
Just thought I'd share since you brought up ongoing issues with junk food.
Thanks for gathering up the courage to confess all here BB! :)
Bought no meat/eggs/dairy/fish for maybe 7 or 8 months a couple years back, but returned after that. Never a meat fiend anyway, and get "Are you vegetarian?" sometimes from casual observers, but not focused on that part. My junk food jihad is vs sugar. The ordinary world is in 1950s grainy black and white, cookies are in vibrant HD color.
Are you saying global warming is a political issue? I realize it’s become one, since the rise of the well funded CCCM, but I refuse to regard it as s political issue. It’s science.Climate change is science. What to do about it is a political issue. Do we use laws? Free market? Subsidies? Taxes?
Yes I have kids. And I’m terrified for their future. And my dad can go to hell for taking part in stealing from their future.Would you like to do a carbon audit of your family's household with us publicly so that we can point out how you're "stealing from their future", too? We could even invite your dad on, and we could compare relative emissions. After all, are we to judge your carbon emissions from how much you say you care about climate change, or from how much you and your family are actually responsible for?
Are you saying global warming is a political issue? I realize it’s become one, since the rise of the well funded CCCM, but I refuse to regard it as s political issue. It’s science.Climate change is science. What to do about it is a political issue. Do we use laws? Free market? Subsidies? Taxes?
Should Western countries be subject to these laws, but not developing countries, or vice versa? What if the free market wants to build a wind turbine next door? Should wind be subsidised, but not solar? How about "clean coal"? Should we with 30kWh electricity a day available each stop using coal in our country, but export it to developing countries so they can have 1kWh a day? Should there be a carbon tax, and if so what should with do with the revenues?
All these are political questions, and their answers are more reflective of an individual's ideology than science, since the scientific answer is "stop all emissions NOW." Which means disconnecting from the internet and turning off the computer. NOW.QuoteYes I have kids. And I’m terrified for their future. And my dad can go to hell for taking part in stealing from their future.Would you like to do a carbon audit of your family's household with us publicly so that we can point out how you're "stealing from their future", too? We could even invite your dad on, and we could compare relative emissions. After all, are we to judge your carbon emissions from how much you say you care about climate change, or from how much you and your family are actually responsible for?
I'm not Christian, but "judge not, that ye be judged" by the same standards is a good principle.
These are important issues. I am very aware of them. Resource depletion is also an issue, several years ago I wrote an article about it on TheOilDrum.com, "The Freezing Point of Industrial Society." [http://anz.theoildrum.com/node/3228] I wrote other articles about reducing emissions, such as "Just One Tonne." [http://www.bicyclefixation.com/howto.html] So if you really want to go down into the reeds on these issues, we can do that.
But you may just want to think about what you're doing. In a resource-constrained society, family and community ties will be very important. Cross the bridge before you burn it.
" If a projection of climate-change cost ignores adaptation, we can safely ignore it."
Sugar. Yeah - if you're not vigilant, you end up consuming way more than you'd think - especially if you're eating processed foods.
A friend of mine did a month of zero added sugar. She inspired me to do the same. Just the exercise in reading labels was a learning experience. It felt great not having sugar.
Have you seen the movie, "That Sugar Film" by the Australian bloke? I think it's on Amazon Prime, and it may be on Netflix.
Sugar. Yeah - if you're not vigilant, you end up consuming way more than you'd think - especially if you're eating processed foods.
A friend of mine did a month of zero added sugar. She inspired me to do the same. Just the exercise in reading labels was a learning experience. It felt great not having sugar.
Have you seen the movie, "That Sugar Film" by the Australian bloke? I think it's on Amazon Prime, and it may be on Netflix.
No. For me the issue isn't info. It's on the craving/addiction spectrum.
Sugar. Yeah - if you're not vigilant, you end up consuming way more than you'd think - especially if you're eating processed foods.
A friend of mine did a month of zero added sugar. She inspired me to do the same. Just the exercise in reading labels was a learning experience. It felt great not having sugar.
Have you seen the movie, "That Sugar Film" by the Australian bloke? I think it's on Amazon Prime, and it may be on Netflix.
No. For me the issue isn't info. It's on the craving/addiction spectrum.
Yeah - I have that too. I'm a big fan of dark chocolate with hazelnuts. And Valpolicella Superiore. I'm like a chocoholic. But for booze - and chocolate.
.As the price of renewable energy drops, we're more likely to see a society of increasing global energy abundance with rising percentages of renewable energy sources. It's just not likely to happen fast enough to prevent heating up the biosphere. Hence I am still "in" the challenge fo
My bike has been out of commission for a month and a half now because of a flat tire I don't have the equipment to fix.
I have been really swamped at work - and that's not likely to change soon - but I'm posting here for accountability. Because I'm burning more gas than necessary. And I really need to just buy a pump.
Good luck with your exam, Tass!
For the thread public - if a US governor candidate says he'll ban fracking in his state, then start a class action lawsuit by the state against fracking, is contributing to his campaign a legitimate self imposed carbon tax?
https://theintercept.com/2018/02/19/dennis-kucinich-vows-to-end-all-oil-and-gas-drilling-in-ohio-if-elected-governor-and-then-take-the-industry-to-court/
Finished watching Utopia a few days ago. I was only watching 1 episode per night :) Incredible show with an unfortunate ending that won't have any follow-up to it.
I've been keeping my eye out on Sunrise Movement (https://www.sunrisemovement.org/) - a youth based organization going all out on climate action. I feel that the kids, just like the gun violence movement, will be the ones with the loudest voice to make change. I met the NYC chapter of Sunrise in the fall and they are passionate in what they're doing. We had a time capsule event (http://www.climatetimecapsule.org/) where we put a letter written to your future self or someone you love and have it buried until 2067.
They are also getting elected officials to sign the no fossil fuel money pledge: http://nofossilfuelmoney.org/candidate-signup/
You can use it as well for your community.
My fear with getting involved in carbon sequestration as a form of carbon offsetting is that it would creep into justifying further indulgence. I feel that it would perniciously shift a very strict and concerned lifestyle, into one that is looser and that may start to think, "It's ok to take that flight to Japan, I'll just increase my donations".
I am not saying that carbon offsetting should be avoided, I am saying for the weak minded it could do more harm than good?
Ok, so what if I donate a really high amount each month to carbon offsetting organisations, an amount that means I am likely to be offsetting 100 tons a year. And let's say my footprint is 10 tons. In this scenario it is sooo tempting to think that taking that extra flight with a 2 ton footprint is acceptable.
I have been struggling with these thoughts for a while now and it has actually prevented me from putting money into carbon offsetting, which of course just feels ridiculous.
Help!
My fear with getting involved in carbon sequestration as a form of carbon offsetting is that it would creep into justifying further indulgence. I feel that it would perniciously shift a very strict and concerned lifestyle, into one that is looser and that may start to think, "It's ok to take that flight to Japan, I'll just increase my donations".
I am not saying that carbon offsetting should be avoided, I am saying for the weak minded it could do more harm than good?
Ok, so what if I donate a really high amount each month to carbon offsetting organisations, an amount that means I am likely to be offsetting 100 tons a year. And let's say my footprint is 10 tons. In this scenario it is sooo tempting to think that taking that extra flight with a 2 ton footprint is acceptable.
Check out http://www.314action.org/home (recommended by @palebluedot ), pick a candidate, go to their direct website and give them $. We're fighting 1/2 Billion dollars in Koch donor network 2018 election $. It's overwhelming. But maybe lots of small donations can get some of these people into power - and kick out people who are working for the fossil fuel industry.
I have been struggling with these thoughts for a while now and it has actually prevented me from putting money into carbon offsetting, which of course just feels ridiculous.
Help!
My fear with getting involved in carbon sequestration as a form of carbon offsetting is that it would creep into justifying further indulgence. I feel that it would perniciously shift a very strict and concerned lifestyle, into one that is looser and that may start to think, "It's ok to take that flight to Japan, I'll just increase my donations".
I am not saying that carbon offsetting should be avoided, I am saying for the weak minded it could do more harm than good?
Ok, so what if I donate a really high amount each month to carbon offsetting organisations, an amount that means I am likely to be offsetting 100 tons a year. And let's say my footprint is 10 tons. In this scenario it is sooo tempting to think that taking that extra flight with a 2 ton footprint is acceptable.
I have been struggling with these thoughts for a while now and it has actually prevented me from putting money into carbon offsetting, which of course just feels ridiculous.
Help!
I think this is one reason it's important to introduce a Carbon Tax on flights (and meat/dairy and many other highly polluting products) so that compensation won't be a voluntary choice to pay of guilt, but that the overall price will get higher and the actual number of flights taken (and meat eaten) will be reduced. PLUS that the money will be actually used for reducing CO2 in the atmosphere and will not disappear in the pockets of the CEOs or governments. I realize that this will turn these products into "luxury goods" and reduce the number of people having access to them, but I do believe it is necessary to make an actual impact.
“Science now tells us love yourself before all men, for everything in the world rests on self-interest. You love yourself and manage your own affairs properly and your coat remains whole. Economic truth adds that the better private affairs are organized in society – the more whole coats, so to say – the firmer are its foundations and the better is the common welfare organized too. Therefore, in acquiring wealth solely and exclusively for myself, I am acquiring, so to speak, for all, and helping to bring to pass my neighbor’s getting a little more than a torn coat; and that not from private, personal liberality, but as a consequence of the general advance.”It’s like reading Ayn freakin’ Rand from 1865
My fear with getting involved in carbon sequestration as a form of carbon offsetting is that it would creep into justifying further indulgence. I feel that it would perniciously shift a very strict and concerned lifestyle, into one that is looser and that may start to think, "It's ok to take that flight to Japan, I'll just increase my donations".
Help!
Car(s) -- I've been thinking of ditching my car and getting an electric scooter for grocery store runs. Or maybe put an electric hub on my bike.
So against all my initial ideas of staying within Europe for the whole year I failed (OK not completely, I stayed in Europe for a year and 6 days exactly, sigh) and took an international flight to visit friends. Just calculated my carbon emissions and autsj, that's 5.3 tons of CO2 which is awful. So at €30/ton that's gonna be €160 to offset my emissions.Good job on avoiding flights for a year! And I love that you're paying your self-imposed carbon taxes.
Are you encouraging me to take another trip now to offset CO2 again? :D
No just joking. I'm out of money for this compensation tho, but I actually did already put some of my "monthly random charity budget" to your cause as I'd really like to see those subsidies go!
(Bikes are not an option where we live. Too dangerous in this particular bike-hostile city and too many of our friends have been seriously injured or killed biking over the years).
Also, we have a lot of nice weather here, and if I just need a few things for dinner there is no damn reason I can't just walk to the store with a backpack and an ice pack if I am too lazy to meal plan!
Phew, as pessimistic as I feel, I'm glad for the enthusiasm of Malaysia41 and everyone who is participating in these climate-change related threads. You guys have inspired me to recover my 'go down fighting' mentality, as opposed to my prevailing 'fuck it, it's hopeless' mentality.
Wow Wenchsenior! I like your plan too.Quote(Bikes are not an option where we live. Too dangerous in this particular bike-hostile city and too many of our friends have been seriously injured or killed biking over the years).
^^ That sucks!QuoteAlso, we have a lot of nice weather here, and if I just need a few things for dinner there is no damn reason I can't just walk to the store with a backpack and an ice pack if I am too lazy to meal plan!
Right on!
If you want ideas for incorporating more plant based meals, join us over in the throw down the gauntlet section in our
Go WFPB (Whole Food Plant Based) Challenge (https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/throw-down-the-gauntlet/who-will-pledge-to-go-vegan-in-january-with-me) thread.
Tonight I made beefless stew from straightupfood (based on Dr. McDougall's recipe) (http://www.straightupfood.com/blog/2015/06/07/beefless-stew) My husband slurped it up and said, 'it's like being in a cozy pub.'
With the potatoes and peas, you get all the protein you need. Seriously, protein is in every single damn plant. You can't name one that has zero protein.
But if you're looking for the big protein packers: tofu in tofu scramble, and lentils in shepherd's pie, and black beans in ginormo burritos. But you'll find that discussion over on the WFPB thread if you'd like to join us.
Yeah that graph is useful. I am surprised dairy milk is so low. Dairy cows are worse Carbon emitters than beef cattle, mainly because of the poor management of their manure. Anyway thanks for posting it. Now I can look closer into where they're getting their data. Could be there's something I'm missing with the dairy story.
Did that appeal to ethics regarding dairy cows make you guys uncomfortable? Did it feel misplaced here? What would you have preferred? I'm must trying to hone my outreach skills. Sometimes a jarring fact aimed at the feels works, other times, it repulses people.
So do be honest, as this is for posterity. ;) (double points for getting this reference).
Anybody have any filling deli meat substitutes to recommend? I can't make myself eat mushroom or bell pepper sandwiches every day.
Yikes. I have mostly seen "dairy" grouped together before, so didn't know cheese in particular was such a significant carbon source. That's a definite guilty pleasure for me.
I also didn't know turkey was more carbon-intensive than chicken, and turkey sandwiches are about the only non-fish meat I still eat regularly. Anybody have any filling deli meat substitutes to recommend? I can't make myself eat mushroom or bell pepper sandwiches every day.
I can also pay more attention to whether the fish I eat (almost exclusively in sushi) is farmed or wild-caught, and if wild-caught whether it's responsibly fished.
I am finally biking to work. Regularly. I can't take too much credit for it, because the move that enabled it now requires my partner to drive instead of walking, so our net carbon output hasn't changed. But I am hoping that this will be an investment - if I can prove to myself a bike commute is possible now I will be more willing to consider and pursue it for the rest of my life.
Today, a large group of young activists went to Washington to put pressure on the new Congress to get working on climate policy. These kids are working their tails off.
https://www.facebook.com/sunrisemvmt/videos/415148215973422/
Hi, gang. Spinning my wheels here. It’s almost the end of the year, and i haven’t done half the stuff on my climate list. So today I tried to jump in and do my carbon offset calculations and purchase in one big jump.
The good news is before I reached the end of my rope, the Nature.org calculator determined my carbon use at 9 tons, 62% better than average. Existing home efficiency, less driving this year, and some meat reduction were the main advantages.
But I have gotten lost trying to sort out how to offset. Just posting instead of not posting.
Methane
Livestock account for 35–40 percent of global anthropogenic emissions. The leading role of livestock, in methane emissions, has long been a well-established fact. Together, enteric fermentation and manure represent some 80 percent of agricultural methane emissions and about 35–40 percent of the total anthropogenic methane emissions.