(not my OC nor my OP, just helping spread the message around:-)
this post was submitted on 15 Feb 2025
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As individuals we can try, but the average population is too selfish and isn't going to stop until it's too late
Between the likes of pollution, deforestation, wars, extinction of species to name a few...the only thing that could save this planet is humanity somehow becoming infertile.
The average population isn't too selfish, the 1% is.
They wouldn't have made it to the richest 1% if they weren't so selfish, and now they have great power over us all, especially regarding the climate.
I think it's both
When I worked in an office, the amount of people who would demand that the heating was cranked up as they were sat there in a cotton t-shirt instead of layering up.
The amount of people I know who have every light turned on in their house, the heating on all day throughout the winter, don't bother with basically insulation, don't turn things off at night, drive to places that are easily in walking distance etc.
I could keep going on forever with a list of small and basic changes such as products purchased, recycling, waste etc but I'd be here forever.
And yet all that pales in comparison to a CEO taking a private jet to work hundreds of miles every day.
And all that pales in comparison to the amount of CO2 released by the cargo ships and planes going all around the world every day to support our global economy.
Not trying to absolve the average Joe of their responsibility towards the environment, but like, there's only so much actually in our control. And even if every single one of us 99%ers did everything in our power correctly, unless we see huge global systematic changes at the policy level (like we did with the ozone layer), it probably won't be enough.
Yeah, and who's fueling said global economy? Regular people browsing Shein ordering ridiculous amounts of plastic-wrapped shit priced at ridiculously low levels.
Carbon tax is the only solution because it would affect both the rich and the poor. Yeah sure a rich CEO wouldn't feel a simple 2 or 3 fold cost increase to their jet-setting, but if at the same time their company makes a lot less money because people ain't buying their pointless shit now that carbon is taxed and things are expensive? That CEO might just start flying less too. And we'd need way fewer cargo ships operating if people bought fewer goods. Oh and manufacturing might become more decentralized again once carbon tax from transportation is an actual cost to consider.
Thing is, nobody is going to want a carbon tax. We'd all have to be inconvenienced for that. We all take so much shit for granted. So we're all fucked.
Sure, yes, average people play their part in the global economy. But I think the infinite growth mentality is a big part of it too, which again, falls solely on the CEOs.
Ultimately I do agree with your overall assessment, things do feel kinda hopeless right now, because it just doesn't seem like very many people in a position to make a difference are really doing anything.