A fixation on system change alone opens the door to a kind of cynical self-absolution that divorces personal commitment from political belief. This is its own kind of false consciousness, one that threatens to create a cheapened climate politics incommensurate with this urgent moment.

[…]

Because here’s the thing: When you choose to eat less meat or take the bus instead of driving or have fewer children, you are making a statement that your actions matter, that it’s not too late to avert climate catastrophe, that you have power. To take a measure of personal responsibility for climate change doesn’t have to distract from your political activism—if anything, it amplifies it.

  • UsernameHere@lemmy.world
    2·
    5 hours ago

    For me the argument is much easies, as I would do more or less fine with that law, as my lifestyle is already pretty low car.

    This is my point. If we try to fix climate change by improving individual carbon footprint, there are some that can do it but many that can not, so it only reduces the greenhouse gas emissions for consumers that can afford it.

    Because it is a systemic problem. Not a problem caused by consumer choice.

    Consumers don’t care if they use a gas car or an EV as long as it does what they need it to do and it is affordable.

    If we just focus on voting and protesting we can create a solution that reduces all emissions, industrial emissions, commercial emissions, consumer emissions, all reduced.

    • MrMakabar@slrpnk.netEnglish
      1·
      47 minutes ago

      The top 10% globally emit almost half of global emissions That group is also the one, which can afford the alternatives, like for example EVs.

      You also ignore that actually living the change, is what builts up the alternatives. Lets take EVs as an example. Economies of scale bring down prices and more EVs means more reason to expand charging infrastructure. We can in fact see both of those in action. That kind of stuff also works socially. The more EVs are around, the more normal they become. It also lowers oil sales, which hurt oil companies, which makes them weaker.

      Aligning you politics and your lifestyle, also makes you more effective politically. Somebody who rudes their bike in everyday life as trandport, will call for very different things, then somebody who only drives everywhere. That can just be knowing the worst parts in the cycling network. Also again, it makes it more believable, when you lobby for something, which makes your life better.

      So I will continue to try to live a life, which aligns with my values, and not pretend I gave up all my agency to Wallstreet.