I completely agree. We do need to ask for laws that protect the planet from superpolluters. And incentives that reward people like “us” - the handwringers who deliberately sacrifice vacations in Hawaii for a cold cabin in the woods because of the amount of harm caused by flying. I think there should be a reward for that. And ... Why is flight shame only a thing in Europe? Can’t we import it here?
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Janelle, and welcome to Climatonomics! I suspect progressive carbon taxation and public shaming should make a dent, but only if there is a global outcry. Else its as easy as "registering" your yacht in a different country with loose laws, analogous to tax evasion in the Caymans.
Reg. flight shaming: I think it would have a hard time here. The EU nations are smaller, have high fuel costs and 3x the population density as the US - all of which make an extensive public transport system financially viable. Here, Amtrak and Greyhound barely scrape through (I've used both), so flying is the most practical, and often cheap, solution.
There are a host of other reasons, and now that I think, might as well merit another blog post? :) What do you think? I would love to hear your opinion, since you just moved there!
Yes! Please write about that. I actually still live in Montana but am aiming for Portugal in part because I would like to live without a car and be able to enjoy public transportation. We have an Amtrak train stop 40 miles from us and I looked into taking it back East but it was more expensive than flying and they have a lot of problems. Another interesting post would be about how much it’s going to cost to get the electrical grid to the point that it can handle electric vehicles. It’s apparently a big upcoming problem for Canadian cities. Thanks for writing on this topic!
I've had similar issues with Amtrak, unfortunately. The grid for a low-carbon future is a scientific challenge - I have friends who develop algorithms for varying grid loads with renewable energy and electrification. It's tricky because there is variability in both power production and consumption, unlike fossil fuels. And its an issue worldwide, though I have to read what Canada's particular bottleneck is. This will be a fun post, as its something I have studied before. Thanks for your wonderful suggestions: these topics are on my calendar now. Stay tuned :)
Obscene wealth is a blight and should be impossible because of adequate (progressive) taxation. But how can "we" change this? Thank you for shining a light on the super-yacht-transportation travesty, I had no idea. But I don't now and have never before listened to what Oprah says and haven't cared for what she does. Or people in similar positions. Do you think it's cognitive dissonance that makes them say one thing and do something else? Or is it deliberate manipulation? What a mess we're in.
Your comment on progressive taxation is spot on, and something I have been studying of late. Reg. Oprah and many like her: Its absolutely deliberate manipulation. Cognitive dissonance arises from refusing to acknowledge reality, like climate deniers.
But these stars write blog posts, give speeches and virtue signal about how much they care, while doing exactly the opposite. AND they attempt to cover their tracks, although unsuccessfully.
The only thing entertainers care about, is public approval. If people continue to name and shame them, I think it will have an effect. Just don't count on their conscience ;) Thanks for your comment, Jessica!
But they are under the same laws as everyone else no? I think there are blind spots when we are talking about something that most population can't have access to (so they don't even regulate it as much) and also when it comes to an international area you are dealing with two different sets of rules. I think laws, taxes and fees, evolve slower than our life styles and that's a big issue.
“We don’t look at what they do, but look at what the say… and forget to demand even basic accountability”
This is so true and applicable to other areas as well!
Absolutely, Vatsal! Thanks for reading. Life would be so much simpler if we truly adopt this principle. But alas...
I completely agree. We do need to ask for laws that protect the planet from superpolluters. And incentives that reward people like “us” - the handwringers who deliberately sacrifice vacations in Hawaii for a cold cabin in the woods because of the amount of harm caused by flying. I think there should be a reward for that. And ... Why is flight shame only a thing in Europe? Can’t we import it here?
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Janelle, and welcome to Climatonomics! I suspect progressive carbon taxation and public shaming should make a dent, but only if there is a global outcry. Else its as easy as "registering" your yacht in a different country with loose laws, analogous to tax evasion in the Caymans.
Reg. flight shaming: I think it would have a hard time here. The EU nations are smaller, have high fuel costs and 3x the population density as the US - all of which make an extensive public transport system financially viable. Here, Amtrak and Greyhound barely scrape through (I've used both), so flying is the most practical, and often cheap, solution.
There are a host of other reasons, and now that I think, might as well merit another blog post? :) What do you think? I would love to hear your opinion, since you just moved there!
Yes! Please write about that. I actually still live in Montana but am aiming for Portugal in part because I would like to live without a car and be able to enjoy public transportation. We have an Amtrak train stop 40 miles from us and I looked into taking it back East but it was more expensive than flying and they have a lot of problems. Another interesting post would be about how much it’s going to cost to get the electrical grid to the point that it can handle electric vehicles. It’s apparently a big upcoming problem for Canadian cities. Thanks for writing on this topic!
I've had similar issues with Amtrak, unfortunately. The grid for a low-carbon future is a scientific challenge - I have friends who develop algorithms for varying grid loads with renewable energy and electrification. It's tricky because there is variability in both power production and consumption, unlike fossil fuels. And its an issue worldwide, though I have to read what Canada's particular bottleneck is. This will be a fun post, as its something I have studied before. Thanks for your wonderful suggestions: these topics are on my calendar now. Stay tuned :)
You're on the point.
Welcome to Climatonomics, Adetokunbo! Your post yesterday was also insightful and on topic, so I am posting the link here for my readers: https://adetokunbo.substack.com/p/if-billionaires-continue-with-their
Lets hope this nonsense comes to an end soon!
If the nonsense doesn't come to an end the nonsense will make nonsense of us as a specie. Thanks for posting the link.
Obscene wealth is a blight and should be impossible because of adequate (progressive) taxation. But how can "we" change this? Thank you for shining a light on the super-yacht-transportation travesty, I had no idea. But I don't now and have never before listened to what Oprah says and haven't cared for what she does. Or people in similar positions. Do you think it's cognitive dissonance that makes them say one thing and do something else? Or is it deliberate manipulation? What a mess we're in.
Your comment on progressive taxation is spot on, and something I have been studying of late. Reg. Oprah and many like her: Its absolutely deliberate manipulation. Cognitive dissonance arises from refusing to acknowledge reality, like climate deniers.
But these stars write blog posts, give speeches and virtue signal about how much they care, while doing exactly the opposite. AND they attempt to cover their tracks, although unsuccessfully.
The only thing entertainers care about, is public approval. If people continue to name and shame them, I think it will have an effect. Just don't count on their conscience ;) Thanks for your comment, Jessica!
But they are under the same laws as everyone else no? I think there are blind spots when we are talking about something that most population can't have access to (so they don't even regulate it as much) and also when it comes to an international area you are dealing with two different sets of rules. I think laws, taxes and fees, evolve slower than our life styles and that's a big issue.
I'm excited to see your next post!