Whilst we might be ahead in time (I'm writing to you from the future right now), I'm ashamed to say that Australia has been ranked alongside the bottom five nations in the world in a global assessment of where we're heading with emissions, according to the CCPI index which measures the performance of 57 countries and the EU. Not only this, but our climate change policy ranks as the worst in the world, and with the recent approval of the Adani coal mine, there's little wonder that many Australians are appalled at government inaction. The recent bushfires in Sydney has brought this debate to the forefront, with the usual infighting amongst politicians that seem to prefer attacking each other than taking real action to address the crisis.
Most of the people in charge don't believe climate change exists, or couldn't care less in favour of economic strength driven by big corporations - corporations which released almost 420 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in 2017-18, according to Australia's greenhouse emissions watchdog, the Clean Energy Regulator. They are also paralysed by their electorate - the fastest way to lose popularity is to regulate industry by proposing a carbon tax. And so, the circus continues. We argue about whether the science is right or not, we argue about greenwashing, we argue about whether a young teenager girl forcing the world to listen should be on the cover of Time Magazine. And meanwhile, huge corporations continue to create environmental damage. Whether or not you believe in global warming is a moot point - please don't argue about it in the comments, but simply accept that any environmental pollution isn't what any of us want for local or global environments.
Sapa, Northern Thailand
Admiring the view with the Hmong people from the mountains nr Sapa, Vietam
It's hard not to be an environmental hypocrite in the modern world. Almost anything you do is going to cost in some way. Admiring Christmas lights in your neighbourhood? Browsing the internet? Ordering a Christmas present online? Watching Netflix? Telcos like Telstra and Vodafone last year released 1.2 million and 179,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases respectively. Amazon consumed 243,570 gigajoules (GJ) of energy and emitted around 56,000 tonnes of emissions1**. We might love the earth, but it's sure as hell hard to adjust our habits as individuals so we're not personally accountable. We certainly do need to look at what we do ourselves. It is not uncommon here for people to identify with a clean living, low impact lifestyle yet fly to Bali three times a year for yoga retreats, and I don't think anyone is unaware, exactly, that they might be partly to blame because if they really, really wanted to be carbon neutraul or even free as an individual, they'd boycott flying altogether.
Tuscany
However, it's not as easy as that. Nor should the individual really have to make such drastic alterations to the way they live their lives. Within reason, sure - there are many things that take little effort to do. Do your research and boycott the big offenders. Watch your household footprint as much as you can. But big companies also need to take responsibility for emissions - and many are, whether or not they are foreseeing the inevitability of a market driven by the desire for a cleaner footprint or for their own sense of culpability. Quantas, for example, are committed to powering their aircraft with bio-fuel from 2020, having already had successful flights part powered by fuel derived from plant oils. They have committed to eliminate carbon emissions entirely by 2050.2. They currently match every dollar spent by passengers to offset their carbon. But what do we do in the meantime? Of all global carbon emissions, commercial flying accounts for approximately two per cent of the total. And how do we manage the enormous amounts of crops needed to create the oils for fuel? This solution does not come without its own complications.
Scotland, many moons ago
Whilst many might rage against the environmental advocates who don't stay grounded and thus appear to fail to walk the hard walk, this must be weighed up against the greater good. Those who are fighting politicians, campaigning and rallying, and sacrificing their time to go to global conferences to stay abreast of the real environmental issues that inform their passions and allow them to more clearly see what is is they are fighting for must surely be justified. Whilst Prince Charles flying for an award might be one thing and David Attenborough another, it is often those who have seen the world the most that fight for it the hardest. If you have swum in seas of plastic in Bali or seen the effects of drought in South Africa or the beauty of the Maldives threatened by rising sea levels first hand, it is far more likely you would be doing what you can to save it. Putting a sign on your health food shop to say plastic bags are not accepted or packaging your product in cardboard isn't going to be the hugest change you can make for the world. Perhaps people who push for policy, write articles, engage and support environmental issues in third world countries, and other important actions that necessitate flying shouldn't be pilloried for doing so.
Halong Bay, Vietnam
Of course as I write this I'm always looking at us. As we become hypocrites ourselves, planning flights to Europe & Asia, we discuss often the morality of what we are doing and how it conflicts with our values as believers in a cleaner, greener world. However, we are in a unique position. Whilst Europeans can easily board a train or cycle, we are isolated by distance. Unless we remain bound by sea, and never see our English family again, we have little choice. We're a migrant nation and an isolated one. Should we just live with that? Should we shut up and stay grounded, doomed to circle this sunburnt island and long forever for the majesty of the world we cannot reach? Shall we never find our true selves by navigating the landscapes to which, as humans of this big blue globe, we are inextricably linked? Travel has made me who I am - I cannot deny that to the youth who come up behind me.
The Australian dilemma is also necessary to broaden the understanding of the world. The only way people come together is when the distance between us is breached. The less traveled one is, the less we understand the other. There is nothing like exposure to another country to help people appreciate others. I'm a teacher - I cannot tell you how often parents have told me that travelling to other countries have made their children better people - more culturally sensitive and less entitled. Less self absorbed. Yes, it's a western privilege to be able to fly at all, but it's also one that can help raise more aware human beings with the potential to do good in a world that needs it. Parochial, Australian centered thinking will not save the world. We're the best, screw the rest ain't gonna help.
Finding myself in Bagan, Burma
Nor will buying bamboo toothbrushes or sorting your recycling more effectively, or buying hemp clothing. I would like to think that these individual actions would make a difference, and collectively, they can make a difference, or so goes the blurb and by-lines. But there needs to be far, far bigger solutions than this. And so it is big corporate that must be the ones taking responsibility. Richard Branson's suggestion for a carbon dividend over a carbon tax is worth governmental mandate. In March, he proposed:
Whilst this might be initially unattractive to governments (who do not profit get the tax), ultimately it can drive an alternative economic model that finds its way into their coffers through encouraging investment into technologies such as renewables. Businesses who invest in these technologies fast track what is needed to combat climate change and recieve profit from their success. As Branson argues, there may be initial fuel price increase, but the more invested into cleaner technologies, the more people will adopt them, the more competition increases, and the more the price is driven down - something that governments can take credit for by enforcing the dividend scheme.
So whilst it mught be easy to hate people who actively and loudly fight for the earth yet fly, maybe instead we refocus on the responsibility not only big corporations must take, but the power they have to do so.
Are you an environmental hypocrite?
How do you reconcile travelling via planes & the desire for a cleaner earth?
This was written in response to Ecotrain's QOTW, which you can find here which asks if eco-warriors should be criticised for flying. Anyone is welcome to answer. This is also my first publication from the www.travelfeed.io site - you should check it out! Content specific front ends are worth supporting as they have the potential to onboard others and thus raise the value of Steem.
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Personally, I don't feel a need or compulsion to offset my environmental footprint per se, but I do believe it is important to do what we can on an individual basis. Even if it is just as simple as using the curbside recycling, I believe every little bit contributes.
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Yeah I dont know how much carbon offsetting flights actually does. Even the head of Quantas said that the other day. Bigger changes need to be made. And I do think individuals can make a difference but what I meant was that its small fry against the massive emissions of big corporations that should be working as hard as us at change, but has more power to do it on a much larger influential scale. Xx
It's really a bit of a catch 22. Unfortunately our world leaders seem to have a disproportionate number of climate change deniers among them, and they are getting their pockets lined by the big polluters who put profits above all else.
If our governments aren't prepared to force or even encourage corporate polluters to do the right thing, perhaps as consumers we need to make our choices based on more than just price.
Let's say product A and product B are functionally the same, but B is more expensive because it is manufactured using more environmentally responsible methods. We vote with our cash. The challenge is finding those that have the most responsible practices.
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And us being in West with a decent income have a moral duty to pay that bit extra, which I am happy to do. Sadly many arent - the extra pennies add up. So good on Branson for being a leader here. If he can pull it off and PROFIT from it, then its a win win.. others might follow. I guess we all have a part to play. We cant wash our hands and say we can't do anything personally at all, and we can absolutely support companies who are headed in right direction whilst continuing to have conversations like this. X
Addressing both @sparkesy43 and @riverflows here.
Unfortunately, even in the West, more and more people are dropping to the point where they can't make that vote with their cash and it's only going to get worse.
Yeah exactly. Be wary of the perfect life on instagram where cute girls live happy eco lives. Aware of difference, and prevalence, of privilege & poverty.
This.
I really like how you're emphasizing the responsibility of corporations. Wait, those things don't have a shred of responsibility, except to their shareholders. So they would need to be forced into the right direction. But taxing them would only drive them away, not to mention that governments would probably waste that tax money on stupid crap. But PAYING them to do good things would possibly provide enough incentive for a few of them to start. And then it's up to the rest of them: either get on board or get outcompeted. Because corporations aren't immune from dying. In fact, it would happen a lot more often, if they weren't kept alive artificially by governments.
Perfect summary of what Branson is saying. We can live and dream! Thanks for reading. Taxes are penalties, incentives can be positive world changers.
And how to do tax and regulate the Big Corporate interests? Through the democratic governments we elect! We are currently "enjoying" the fruits of centuries of electoral apathy.
NICE answer. I say that just returned from an exhaustive, non-flight, cross border trip to Laos which was unbelievably disruptive, challenging and questionable in its environmental advantage.
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MMM. nice job river! great discussion here.. and yes Australia dont do a very good job on many things.. i think the main reason for that is just their deep and strong connection with USA, Oz are basically in the pocket of America... i think the reason that happened is because Australians do feels somewhat isolated and alone / vulnerable living on an island so far from anywhere else.. surrounded by some pretty different countries and cultures..
the last point is pretty crucial i think too.. we have to look to the corporations to provide us with better options so we can actually choose something better...
nice pic in scotland! I hope you didn't touch them stones!!! (did you see outlander?)
We did touch the stones, but the only magical thing that happened is we fell more in love! No transportation to other times and worlds, though we did end up in Australia!
Yeah, we had to rely on own industry to compete really, and coal export is seen as very lucrative..couple that with politicians who don't care for anyone or anything but them and their cronies and its a bit of a disaster.
Thanks for stopping by and your lovely response xx
Beautifully put as always. It's never a straight path and even as we try to improve things other complications will arise. In fact, as we chase these things around and around, there is only one solution that ends up being a surefire for the environment and other species, but that's the one no-one wants to talk about, because it has its own, moral, complications.
Well, in my dictatorship, I'd be happy to create a limited child policy for starters. We definitely should talk about these things - I definitely see Talking Point as a place to do that, and I very dare you to raise such a moral quagmire of a post! - @riverflows xx
I saw something not too long ago that showed maybe a couple dozen people who were responsible for most of the world's pollution through the businesses they run. For you or I it makes a small difference the choices we make. But for one of those people, it makes a huge difference if just one decides to factor the well-being of the environment into his idea of "success."
Yeah totally. And I think once THEY lead the way, they set precedents for other business owners to follow lead. I do admire Branson for what he is doing or trying to do.
Wow I feel naive, as an American I picked Australia in the top for being clean energy!! I think it's easy to have a view of other countries we create in our minds. Ahh this is such a downfall of our modern day society. I struggle so bad with this. I hate driving and many days I am forced to drive 3-4 hours a day. I didn't want this life and it's hard to change it when you live somewhere where there is insufficient public transportation as well as is incredibly spread out making life complicated. I am an organizational strategic communication major and we learned a lot about personality types and the workplace and how to make operations run efficiently. We were taught in one class that 95% of CEO's and higher ups in large corporations were sociopaths. They have to be to make money because they hurt people and the precious Mother Earth in the process. I recycle, reuse, shop Thrift, buy local as much as possible and buy organic. I teach this to my children and encourage my friends and people around me. For me it always returns to I must be the change I want to see. Great post!!😊
Yeah sooo many CEOS are single minded, unempathetic twatheads. We can be concentrate on our own behaviour and actions .. lest we get too depressed about the whole thing!!
That's very true!! That's why the @naturalmedicine group is so dear to my heart 💜 anytime I need some good vibes I can scroll the feed and my faith in humanity is restored 💜🙏🏻💕💓
I agree with you. "In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. If we look at it, we are all hypocrites in one way or another.
PS. The photographs are spectacular. Greetings, @riverflows!
So true. There's another one.. 'people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones'. Xx
I've thought a lot about the flying too and some of my friends who really do care about climate change and do pay a carbon offset, but it does seem a bit ludicrous to tell yourself that the offset is/will be enough.
Perhaps, a better plan would be each person only allowed one flight per year and those who are making daily flights for business would have to find a better way, or buy theirs from people who aren't going to use theirs? I know, that's never going to happen....I'm just dreaming up silly solutions.
So, I'm not so sure what we do? Like you, I've learned much traveling and appreciate the world more, but also don't fly that often. I'm trying not to participate as much in corporate culture and that means earning less money in order to do more important things (like garden and give time to my community) so in doing that I have less money to buy plane tickets ;)
Girl after own heart. I love the one flight per year idea and swaps/sells if you cant fly that year or choose not to. Lets be dictators together. Xx
Yes, lets :P
Sorry, I got distracted yesterday and wanted to respond to other parts of your great comment too. I am doing the Deepak Chopra Abundance challenge, as naff as that sounds, and though I'm a few days behind and know a lot of the ideas he's espousing, it has reinforced for me how I get so bound up with the money culture even though I KNOW it doesn't equate to happiness. We don't live beyond our means, don't have a huge mortgage or expensive cars, and like you say, I earn less to contribute more to the world by doing more important things! And I want to do more - I just have to let go of that nervous feeling of not having enough - and one of those things is flights. It's hard when your husband is British too and you kinda HAVE to have that money stashed for flights to go back once or twice every couple of years. But we'll figure it out I'm sure - step one is working less and earning less. @riverflows xx
The abundance challenge sounds like a great idea :)
Like everyone else, I enjoy nice things and some of the experiences that money can bring and there are times that I notice having less, but that's when comparing and there are always those with much less too. I've somehow always had enough and some of the times when we've had the least we've experienced the greatest joy in the smallest of gifts and/or experiences. One Christmas we were particularly impoverished after I'd quit my job and my then husband made less money than I had and someone decided to be our secret Santa bringing a count down of food dishes, knick-knacks and small surprises for every day of the month of December culminating with a card and fifty dollars! If I remember right, it was just enough to pay off a bill and might has well have been $50,000 at that point in our lives :)
Hey there...Where do India and China rank on that list? Just wondering.
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@galenkp, fascinating question. India is 9 (wow!) and China is 30. Oh, the shame!
You can see the results here https://www.climate-change-performance-index.org/country/china
Seems to me effort makes a huge difference! - @riverflows x
It's all too little too late though I think. A pity for the planet.
Pointing the finger at corporations is shifting the blame from the individual to the group. This is not a supply problem, it's a demand problem. Humans love to place the blame on others.
If no one wanted to fly or worse go on cruises, the corporations providing those would not exist. Corporations don't mine coal or turn oil into plastic for fun, they turn them into products which consumers demand. It's childish to say that corporations need to have more accountability. We all need to make the right decisions and have accountability, corporations live for profit, individuals create the demand and work for corporations.
Blame McDonald's for making you overeat, Marlboro for making you smoke, Nike for making you buy 40 pairs of shoes, Disney for making you watch 8 hours of TV in a row, Steemit for making you blog. It's ridiculous.
Have accountability and if you care, avoid burning carbon. Society at large has to change. Air-travel may count for a small amount of pollution but what about the taxis we take to the airport, hotels, take-away food, entertainment, etc. Humanity needs to stop measuring success with material wealth, conspicuous consumption and overindulgence. Forget focusing on CO2, focus on greed.
We absolutely do!!! I totally get the supply and demand thing, and consumer demand absolutely drives the market and, like you say, it's stupid to say that Maccas made me do it. We definitely know that these corporations rely on us not caring and falling for marketing ploys that we think make us better in some way - fitter, healthier, sexier, more popular. For many of us educated folk or those with an ounce of common sense or social conscience, it's not hard to make oneself just as accountable as the corporations that make this stuff to meet our greed. I absolutely, unequivocally agree with you there! Yes, yes, yes society DOES need to change at large.
However, the point I'm trying to make is that we all have to change and that's including corporations who are also socially accountable. The thing is, big corporations are very, very good at removing choice by removing competition, and continuing to create products they know people need - not always WANT (for example, I live in a remote area, and if I want to get anywhere, I have to drive - and, living in a country with ridiculously high car import taxes, I can't afford an electric vehicle and my only option is to continue to support a fossil fuel industry that I feel deeply uncomfortable with) - and, being unaccountable, and often given huge tax breaks, and the licence to do many morally questionable things in the interest of profit, yes, I think I can argue that governments have a duty of care toward it's people by ensuring that these companies cause the least harm possible. I believe the corporations are just as responsible as the individual. And not only that, I believe it's possible to have a corporation driven by moral imperatives that can still make a profit, inspire others to do so, and create competition to lower prices. Not everyone can choose 'green' flights (costly) but if they are available, and people like me are willing to pay that little bit extra (moral accountability) eventually everyone will start doing it and the prices will be competitive.
And oh god, fuck yeah! Greed is going to be our downfall. How much better would it be if we stopped wanting, wanting, wanting - satiating a happiness nerve that is never, never satiated.
I am rambling a bit, acknowledging we actually are saying the same thing. xx :P - @riverflows xx
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I always thought that Australia is doing good on climate change policies. I don’t know why. :)
I admit, I click your post because you put Bali on the title, I’m a half Balinese 😁
There’s a tradition in Bali called Nyepi day. Once a year, we don’t do anything, just stay at home, no transportation, airport shutdowned. We spent a day without any electricity, not even any traditional lights. Kinda like earth hour initiative by WWF, only for Nyepi day, it last for a whole day. I always wonder if this tradition is that kind local wisdom by our ancestors to protect environment 😁
I.wish we did Nyepi Day once a week! Imagine the difference that would make! I know its unfeasible because people want to make money and do things (imagine the outcry in the West because people couldn't watch TV or charge phones!) ..
But its a beautiful thought. What day is Nyepi Day, ir does it vary year ti year?
Nyepi Day is actually the New Year day of Balinese Saka Calendar. In Gregorian calendar, usually it comes on March or April. In 2020, Nyepi day will fall on 25th of March. :)
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I like your way of thinking and agree that it starts with ourselves but also to support and appreciate those that are battling at the front line!
I hadn't heard about Richard Brandson's proposal but I like it. Thanks for bringing this to our attention!
Beautiful photos and good on ya for posting in www.travelfeed.io !
I totally think we all should be posting from relevant front ends. Does take some organisation skills!
I am just little confused, I've seen posts about Bali. But dont know who poated? Bali.. a country built upon the idea of an island paradise. I think we personely indivitual efforts can effect very positive role in enoirnment. I beleive our effort help to make earth clean.
Excellent post. I talk about these issues in my What Should A Climate Emergency Look Like? t's in 8 parts and there is one called, Here We Are Now; Entertain Us...
The solutions installment covers a lot of ground, too, and shares similar ideas to your own...Peace:)