TalkClimateChange

We are all under pressure to live green lifestyles. Our politicians tell us we should be greener, Hollywood actors tell us we should be greener, the tax man tells us, and often our conscious tells us too. Common sense suggests that with increasing population and improving lifestyles across the world we need to consider how deep the well really is.

But what can the average person really do help? Well here are some things that you definitely can’t do.

You can’t reduce electricity usage - unless you have no dimmer switches, don’t need bulbs brighter than 2300LMs, and have no high-tech devices. For all the progress made on low standby leakage the sheer number of devices people have today outweighs this. And some new devices like digital video recorders refuse to use less than 40wats 24×7.

You can’t stop flying - unless you don’t want to go anywhere, ever. The world has become culturally richer through access to travel, and asking people to stay at home is frankly not an option.

You can’t stop industry from wiping out your improvements in 5 seconds - Even if you stop flying, driving and have no mains electricity, the goods that you brought in the last 3 months made in a coal powered factory in the far east have just wiped out all your efforts. Unless you stop shopping you can forget being Green.

You can’t vote for a green politician - they don’t exist. Whatever they may claim, they are just going to make a few token green gestures to make themselves look good and increase tax revenues.

You can’t turn down the thermostat - if you live in a cold place then life is hard enough. After a few chilly hours then someone is going to turn it up again.

You can’t offset your emissions - without trusting your money to dubious investment firms who make vague promises about doing something good with your money. If you really want to make a difference then buy a wind-turbine.

You can’t power your home with a wind-turbine - unless you live in the countryside and have no neighbours to object to a 30 foot high monstrosity in your garden. And living in the countryside negatively offsets your greenness since city living has been shown to be far more ecologically sound.

Of course, real options are available for people who really want to make a difference, but many people are indifferent. And unless we can make it easier for the Mr & Mrs average by addressing some of these issues then the real world is not getting greener, despite what Leonardo DiCaprio tells you.

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