GHG emissions and climate change are directly linked to excessive consumption in affluent countries. The sources of GHG emissions are basically from how we live—the ways and amounts we travel, the amounts of space we occupy, the types of food we eat, and the amounts of goods we consume and waste. The figure below is a proxy for the amount of current warming caused by specific countries. Over 70% of accumulated CO2 emissions came from just four countries: the U.S., E.U., China, and Russia.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy CO2 Information Analysis Center, annual per capita CO2 emissions (in metric ton, equal to about 1.1 US ton) for different countries are: US 18, Australia 17, Canada 14, EU 8, China 7, Mexico 4, India 2, and less than 1 metric ton for most developing counties. Notice an average US resident emits about 20 times that of a resident in a developing country. And an average EU citizen emits less than half of that of a US citizen because of differences in life styles.
The 2020 UN Emissions Gap Report points out that changing lifestyles is a prerequisite for reducing emissions. About two-thirds of global carbon emissions are related to personal and family activities, including heating and cooling, transportation, consumption, travel, and food. Here is an alarming statistics: the total emissions of the world’s richest 1% of the population are twice the total emissions of the bottom 50%. To reduce emissions requires top-down policy promotion and personal lifestyle changes.
Ultimately, we have to remove atmospheric CO2 in order to resolve the climate change problem. For now, energy efficiency and conservation still offer the biggest potential for reducing carbon emissions. Planting trees to absorb atmospheric CO2 is one of several solutions to remove atmospheric carbon. These measures will buy us time to allow us to implement extensive renewable energy and economically-feasible carbon capture-and-store solutions.
Individual efforts do not carry us very far. We have to vote for politicians up and down who are willing to enact legislations to fight climate change. At this stage, the US is in such sad and hopeless shape that anything politicians propose in fighting climate change is a giant leap from where we are today. I would propose a few basic things. First, stop fighting climate scientists and acknowledge climate change is real and that it is caused by burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, diets, and current agricultural practices. Advocate for the teaching of climate science in public schools. Encourage and incentivize renewable energies such as solar and wind. The possibilities are endless if we have the political will.