Right-wing Climate Change Propaganda
One of the bullet points you hear from the right regarding why the US should NOT ratify the Kyoto Protocol is invariably:
"The Kyoto Protocol does not effect developing countries such as China and India, and therefore penalizes the US unnecessarily"
Well, as could probably have been expected, this is bunk. It turns out that China has done more to reduce it's "Greenhouse Gas Intensity"1 than the US has by a long-shot. In addition, they're also making a real go of integrating renewable energy into their society.
Meanwhile, Americans still produce the most Greenhouse Gasses per capita...
What can you do?
Oh, the usual:
1 A dubious metric relating greenhouse gas emissions to GDP instead of overall emissions.
2 Mental note: start riding bike to Tai Chi again
3 I have a hard copy of this article. If anyone wants a copy, just let me know.
"The Kyoto Protocol does not effect developing countries such as China and India, and therefore penalizes the US unnecessarily"
Well, as could probably have been expected, this is bunk. It turns out that China has done more to reduce it's "Greenhouse Gas Intensity"1 than the US has by a long-shot. In addition, they're also making a real go of integrating renewable energy into their society.
Meanwhile, Americans still produce the most Greenhouse Gasses per capita...
What can you do?
Oh, the usual:
- Turn off lights and monitors when not in use
- Turn down your heat or air-conditioning when you're not at home
- Drive less and/or consolidate your trips
- Walk/bike when you can (see: drive less) - you might even get physically fit2,3
- Buy a TerraPass to offset your auto's emissions
- Sign up for green energy if you have that option through your electric company
- etc.
1 A dubious metric relating greenhouse gas emissions to GDP instead of overall emissions.
2 Mental note: start riding bike to Tai Chi again
3 I have a hard copy of this article. If anyone wants a copy, just let me know.