What is the breakdown of the "70%" of carbon emissions by companies? (feddit.de)

submitted 1 year ago by Dislodge3233@feddit.de to c/environment@beehaw.org

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I read things like "70% of emissions are by large energy companies". It often seems to be followed by claims that individual action is insignificant.

The logic seems off because if everyone stopped buying from those companies, then the emissions would be gone. Or in effect, buying from those companies buys you a share of the emissions.

Is there a good breakdown of the emissions? What percent is attributable to the consumer? Am I missing something?

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[-] swnt@feddit.de 12 points 1 year ago

Here's some background information on that: https://8billiontrees.com/carbon-offsets-credits/bp-carbon-footprint-calculator/

Also, it's not like people can just stop using cars, planes and energy and co. We also need the corresponding societal transformation to become less and less co2-intensive (plus all the other hazards like pollution etc.). This isn't at all fixable by consumer market choices. this needs political planning, regulations, etc. But to avoid that, auch fossile fuel companies have been actively and massively putting misinformation and propaganda into the public to distract from such effective (and profit reducing) actions.

[-] Dislodge3233@feddit.de 2 points 1 year ago

This I can get behind. It seems fallacious to believe that my choices don't contribute to global warming, but equally wrong to believe that companies haven't forced my hand.

This reminded me of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_streetcar_conspiracy, which I hadn't considered before. This is an example when a major company absolutely forced me to make bad environmental decisions. Public transport was literally destroyed, forcing more cars on the road.

this post was submitted on 07 Aug 2023

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