Climate Change Actually Is A Matter of Individual Choice
6 October 2008 - 8:00am
A new study finds that 65% of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. are under the direct or indirect control of individuals. However, many of those habits are difficult to change given land uses.
"The figure for consumers in the rest of the world is just 43%. Americans, largely because of how they drive and how they build and use their homes and offices, lead some of the most energy-intensive lives in the world.
'We in the U.S. have a much greater ability to influence this issue than perhaps people recognize,' says Jon Creyts, a McKinsey principal who assembled the numbers.
But harnessing people power won't be easy. There are big practical constraints, notably costs."
Full Story:
A Big Sum of Small Differences
Source:
The Wall St. Journal, October 2, 2008
»
- Login or register to post comments
- Email this page
- Wanted: Better Tools for Climate Modeling and Land Use - Oct 04, 2009
- New Study on the Benefits of Density - Sep 03, 2009
- 'Invisible' Cities Want Bigger Role in Climate Bill - Jul 30, 2009
- Rep. Blumenauer Touts Cap and Trade - Jun 25, 2009
- Time to Adapt to a Warmer World is Now - Apr 17, 2008
“
"To ignore this space is shortsighted." -- Jennifer Wolch, Director of the USC Center for Sustainable Cities
”
Contribute
- Walkscore to Get Bus Points
- Finding A Sustainabe Path for Jakarta
- Isn't This How We Got Into This Mess in the First Place?
- Simulating Mount Rushmore
- Talking 'Bout a RailVolution
- The Solution for Homelessness? Homes.
- The History of the Parking Lot
- The Most Polluted Metro Areas in America
- 'No Credits, Just Prerequisites'
- Center for Developmentally Disabled Doesn't Fit Zoning - Any Zoning
D.C. Area Professional Development Courses Offered in Economic Growth and Environmental Sustainability– Last Chance to Register!
Planning Academy at Virginia Tech, VT National Capital Region campus in Alexandria, VA
Nov 05, 2009
Step Up Your Site Analysis with Planetizen's Advanced Google Earth Webinar
Planetizen
Nov 04, 2009
Managing Growth With Priority Funding Areas: A Good Idea Whose Time Has Yet to Come
Routledge
Nov 04, 2009
www.flickr.com
|
No public transit?
"For example, saying auto emissions are under the direct control of consumers may put too much onus on individuals, letting industry off too easily. People can choose only products that are available to them."
Or they can only choose to drive when short-sighted planning, subsidized highways, and lack of transit investment make it more convenient to drive 99% of the time.
Even in the next paragraph, Bhatia talks about suburban development, but fails to mention transit.