Personal carbon footprint versus getting political

As vegans, we have made the connection between planetary wellbeing and our lifestyles. A transformation for many that is irrevocable when this connection is deeply felt.

The value of vegan compassion and personal responsibility is tremendous. It is part of a broader human evolution to a more sustainable world, where individuals directly experience the interrelatedness of the biosphere. In other words, that nature is part of them, and they are part of nature.

The scientific support for a more plant-based world is booming, but the transition to sustainability cannot be left to individual lifestyle choices if we are to curb the worst-case scenario of climate change. There are corporations and government bodies that are disproportionately responsible for the climate and ecological crisis that we are already experiencing.

The latest technical summary from the IPCC substantiates that to keep global warming beneath 2 degrees, we need radical systemic shifts in energy and agriculture. If left to the choices of individuals, such radical socioeconomic shifts will take too long. Let’s look at this disproportionate responsibility to resolve the climate crisis…

You may have heard the term ‘personal carbon footprint’, but did you know that it was derived from a marketing campaign, endorsed by fossil fuel giant BP, to deflect responsibility on to the actions of regular people after concern for the climate crisis increased?

Author, Jeff Sparrow, makes a good case that corporations have purposefully engineered an intense sense of environmental responsibility on the average person.

It was reported 5 years ago, that since 1988, 71% of greenhouse gas emissions were traceable to just 100 companies.

Today, we are being informed that not only is there plentiful clean energy alternatives, but renewables are a cheaper way to produce energy. Yet governments continue to licence new fossil fuel projects and grant subsidies to giant fossil fuel corporations. These companies are reported to be making record-breaking profits, whilst regular people around the world are experiencing economic crises and the planet is being decimated at unprecedented rates.

Seaspiracy informed us that our efforts to reduce single-use plastic pale in comparison to the amount of plastic dumped in the ocean by the fishing industry.

Multiple studies have shown animal agriculture to be a cataclysmic contributor to ecological destruction and climate change. But the industry of animal agriculture is an age-old livelihood to many.

The Australian economy is completely dependent on the dirtiest of fossil fuels, coal, with many towns devoted to upholding the industry.

With so many individuals dependent on unsustainable commodities, what support is being offered to those who will need to uproot their livelihoods for the sake of sustainability?

If we wait for the individual epiphanies of each person to reach critical mass, we will be out of time to prevent horrific climate breakdown.

Regular people deserve to be provided with clean, affordable energy, and they deserve support in transitioning to sustainable careers and lifestyles.

In addition, it must become clear to world governments that the provision of fossil fuel subsidies, tax breaks and further development, do not hold social licence amongst the public.

With the future of the planet heavily dependent on radical systemic shifts, it is time for the eco-conscious to get political and hold governments responsible for protecting our home.

Article written by Aisling Geraghty- Australia