this post was submitted on 28 Aug 2023
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Yes, we can choose to.
But those in power only care about money and power. And until they are dealt with or otherwise removed from said power, nothing is going to change.
We've already started to get change, even with the very limited and imperfect power that we have. Here's what is happening in the US:
The 2022 report shows a 0.8% increase for U.S. emissions. I get your point is that there are many plans to change that, but so far we're still going up and that's including offshoring some industries. That's why the world overall reached a new high. Granted the EU has made some progress, being I believe the only group showing a decline in emissions (-2.5%). As with any call for solar and wind (which was probably a key component) I have to ask if the environmental costs due to their manufacturing was worth it. I know, we have to do something...we sure can't look at the demand side of things though, can we? Always about how to make more energy with less bad effects.
Sorry...once you take the red pill it's hard to look at anything positive anymore. I used to think that way...
South America also had a decline in emissions in the last two decades. Well North America as well, but coming from a high level. Africa is intresstingly having stable emissions since a decade, but given how poor the continent is that is likely to change. Really emissions growth comes from Asia and that is basicly it. It is countries like China, India, Vietnam and Indonesia becoming wealthy, which requires more energy. Obviously a lot of that is from fossil fuels.
However on a per capita bases the US is still among the worst and while Europe is better some countries are still bad.
Yes, there's a rise as a result of the decision to stop doing anything about COVID. It doesn't really change the trajectory driven by a piece of legislation which won't be fully in effect for a couple more years.