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Scientists deliver ‘final warning’ on climate crisis: act now or it’s too late
(www.theguardian.com)
this post was submitted on 01 Nov 2023
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We are not making huge changes. Definitely too little, hopefuly not yet too late. But you can, by stop eating animal products. It's the most powerful thing you can do.
It really depends on where you live and your lifestyle.
Agriculture is 26% of global CO2 because everyone needs to eat, but not everyone lives in American-style suburban sprawl. The most powerful thing someone can do ultimately depends on what the worst thing they're doing is. Taylor Swift would be better off getting rid of her private jet than going vegan. And not all foods are created equal - chicken is much better for the environment than beef.
US emissions are rather different from average global emissions. In the US, agriculture is only 10% of emissions, electricity is 25% and transportation is 28%. Light- duty vehicles like cars, vans and pickups are 58% of those transportation emissions; heavy duty tractor trailers are 23%.
So driving, in the US, is responsible for 16% of total emissions - more than the entire agricultural sector. Doing things to lower those emissions like supporting walkable, mixed-use transit-oriented development is big. Switching to using an electric cargo bike for grocery shopping is big. Switching to an electric car is at least better.
Installing solar is probably better for most Americans than going vegetarian, as well. If you're French, Dutch, etc, then your milage will vary.