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Time for Change.: Difference between revisions
→The problem: Our System is Broken and it we don't know how to fix it.
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== The problem: Our System is Broken and it we don't know how to fix it. == | == The problem: Our System is Broken and it we don't know how to fix it. == | ||
''Short: [[We are one|We]] have had a [[long collective history]], but now it is in [[ | ''Short: [[We are one|We]] have had a [[long collective history]], but now it is in [[Ecological crisis|jeopardy]],. Asking politely for the ruling class to act is not going to cut it we need to look at other solutions.'' | ||
== Summary == | == Summary == | ||
''We need to move from egocentrism to ecocentrism. Some believe we as individuals can slow its progression by adopting better consumption patterns. It can be summarized in this equation:'' | ''We need to move from egocentrism to ecocentrism. Some believe we as individuals can slow its progression by adopting better consumption patterns. It can be summarized in this equation:'' | ||
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P x S x E x C = CO2 (carbon dioxide output) | P x S x E x C = CO2 (carbon dioxide output) | ||
It’s a neat little formula because it drives home the point: that for all the Paris climate talks and more affordable Teslas, environmental incrementalism is somewhat pointless. In the equation, P = population; S = services used by people; E= the energy needed to power those services; and C equals the carbon dioxide created by that energy. Population is of course trending ever-higher, as are the services people demand, especially in the developing world which has barely scratched the surface in terms of cars and air conditioning and other modern basics. Those two factors swamp progress in energy efficiency. Gates points out that scientists are calling for an 80 percent drop in carbon emissions by 2050 (and a total end by 2100) to stave off the most dramatic effects of climate change, yet even with more efficiency, the growth in population and services means that emissions will instead ''jump'' by 50%. | It’s a neat little formula because it drives home the point: that for all the Paris climate talks and more affordable Teslas, environmental incrementalism is somewhat pointless. In the equation, P = population; S = services used by people; E= the energy needed to power those services; and C equals the carbon dioxide created by that energy. Population is of course trending ever-higher, as are the services people demand, especially in the developing world which has barely scratched the surface in terms of cars and air conditioning and other modern basics. Those two factors swamp progress in energy efficiency. Gates points out that scientists are calling for an 80 percent drop in carbon emissions by 2050 e(and a total end by 2100) to stave off the most dramatic effects of climate change, yet even with more efficiency, the growth in population and services means that emissions will instead ''jump'' by 50%. | ||