What Would You Do About Climate Change?

[Admiral Yi]

I assumed ZIP would cover that. It would be trivial to get that data at least on a state level given the ZIP code.

That's what i figured as well, but then why did they put that drop down there?

[The Brain]

There seems to be a lot of focus on doing negative things to help. What about doing positive things?

[Caliga]

https://www3.epa.gov/carbon-footprint-calculator/

Calculate your carbon footprint.  Does not include air travel unfortunately.

I got 9,744 pounds a year.  US average is 24,550.

46,970 

[mongers]

There seems to be a lot of focus on doing negative things to help. What about doing positive things?

If we could just double the volume of the atmosphere, that would halve CO2 overnight.   

[Iormlund]

I'm moving to a new place.

It will make using the company bus viable, so that should help me drastically cut down on gas.
The building has much better insulation than my current place, so that will reduce my A/C and heating.

Most importantly though, I don't have kids.


Regarding food, eating veggies is not really viable for me. More than, for example, the amount of green peas in those tiny bachelor tins means a fun trip to the ER.

[Grey Fox]

No flying & reducing my consumption of goods are the main I do. No single use plastic, ever.

Reducing meat is hard in a household with someone who is soy intolerant.

My A/C & eating are already at a min & almost entirely emission less.

In 5 year I might be able to take public transport to get to work but first they have to finish building the infrastructure.

[mongers]

Guys, some good thoughtful stuff already being done. 

[Valmy]

I'm moving to a new place.

It will make using the company bus viable, so that should help me drastically cut down on gas.
The building has much better insulation than my current place, so that will reduce my A/C and heating.

Most importantly though, I don't have kids.


Regarding food, eating veggies is not really viable for me. More than, for example, the amount of green peas in those tiny bachelor tins means a fun trip to the ER.

Why is that important? I don't see how if you had a kid that would change any of the previous stuff you said

Would your kids drive or rip up the insulation or something?

[Eddie Teach]

Your kids use the earth's resources too.

[Iormlund]

Exactly.

[Legbiter]

One aspect of the meat side of this that I find challenging is that the meat that is best environmentally is worst from an animal welfare (and flavour - I would argue) perspective. The least environmentally harmful form of meat production is industrial farming, the worst is organic, free-range giving the animals a good life.

Meat is the enviornmentally friendly option in your case. Most of the Earth's landmass is only suitable to livestock or dairy farming, not ceral agriculture. Absolutely massive herds of ruminants have been part of the Earth's ecology since way before the dinosaur extinction. The issue is the carbon footprint of your meat. In your case I'd think the winner would be Welsh lamb, for instance. For our Spaniard languishbrahs it's locally raised pork.

[Admiral Yi]

46,970 

  How do you manage that?  Leave the car running all night long?  Open all the windows in winter?

[Eddie Teach]

Probably all the business trips.

[Maladict]

Most importantly though, I don't have kids.

Forgot about that one 

Probably the best single thing you can do.

[Legbiter]

Why not just kill yourself then? That would turn you into a point decimal something insignificant in carbon decrease blahblah.

I feel like the most zealous here are just turning their Houellebecqian protagonist existence into something heroic.