Buried in 'Helping Green Products Grow', a recent McKinsey study on green marketing, are some rather startling data on the state of citizens' knowledge, regarding the most effective approaches to global warming reduction:
Taking these numbers into account, bloggers, journalists, environmental organizations, teachers, and all involved in educating the public on global warming solutions, need to reevaluate their message. Eating less beef, improving home insulation, and driving less and more efficient vehicles, are getting short-changed, and should become the focus of targeted communication efforts.
I can imagine a four-pronged national advertising campaign focusing on each of these behavioral changes. The good news is these are simple actions people can understand. They also happen to result in great personal benefits as well. Less beef is healthier, and also easier on the pocketbook. Better home insulation quickly pays for itself, and results in substantial savings from reduced energy consumption. Driving less is also better for one's health. And driving a more fuel-efficient car could become another source of savings.
Of course, advertising alone will not work. New policies need to be put in place as well. Not giving into lobbyists from the beef industry, and favoring instead better food alternatives such as chicken or fish, or vegetarian choices. Launching green collar job initiatives to assist home owners with insulating their homes. Giving subsidies to citizens who want to buy fuel efficient cars. And expanding the public transportation system.
Notice how all four recommendations could be implemented at once. There is no need to wait for miracle technologies. All that's needed is the goodwill from the citizens, and from policy makers.
1) Stop building new coal plants
2) Start shutting down existing coal plants and replacing them with non-CO2 producing alternatives; wind, solar, hydro, nuclear, geothermal, tides and ocean current.
3) Replace most of our gasoline vehicles with plug-in vehicles
That will reduce our CO2 production by 60 to 70%. Once we accomplish those, then there's more that we can do, but that's where we need to start.
There is absolutely no political will to fight the coal industry. Environmentalists who focus on light bulbs and beef are going in the wrong direction and not helping the movement at all. The right approach is to sway public opinion against coal. The coal industry has a huge head start with their campaign advertising clean coal. Clean coal is a myth; it does not and never will exist except in TV commercials, but most of the public doesn't know that. If people knew the truth about coal they would want to move away from it.
As you asked for it on Twitter, I dugg it. Hope this helps ! ;)
1) Stop using the Internet. The Internet uses almost 900 billion Kwh of electricity, roughly 10% of all electricity consumed today.
2) Return to a simpler life. The Amish Community has an extremely small carbon foot print. If we were to return to a 19th Century Agrarian lifestyle, imagine the amount of Co2 that would be kept out of the atmosphere. Of course if you want a minimalist existence: the Yanomamo people leave very little impact on their environment. If we were to all return to a primitive lifestyle, the Planet would cool off in no time.
Eating less large animals would require less water thirsty corn feed, and leave more land resources to healthier vegetable fare. Smaller animals convert protein more effectively.
As for transportation, using public buses/trains or ride shares would clean the air and the pockets. Bicycling and walking habits could also reduce the need for medical intervention.
How often we miss the easy solutions while looking for panacea to the troubled modern conscience.
i was surprised to see the low ratings, for adjust thermostat since such a simple move would help the health of the individual as well as that of the air quality indoors and out. I like sweaters and blankets, fresh air and radiant heat! a cozy winter and a quiet pillow to all...
Our whole lifestyle needs revamping to reconcile our reliance on CHEAP (oil) energy. Funny thing though, solar and wind is essentially free. Sure there are costs involved but so is there with building gas/coal/oil/uranium fired powerplants. Economies of mass scale will bring costs into line, all we need is a "boost" from our collective efforts (aka - tax revenues). The only catch is that the most powerful men/women in the world have oil profits to lose.