Systemic Change

Amy Westervelt  discusses the limits of individual actions to solve the climate emergency.

We have seen temporary environmental benefits from the current lockdown. Emissions are projected to fall by between roughly 5% and 8% this year. But they are just that: temporary.

Carbon dioxide emissions reductions are a result of global lockdowns ― not the result of considered environmental policies ― and as such they have required huge, unsustainable levels of sacrifice.

These temporary reductions would need to be sustained for years to make a real difference.

The COVID-19 pandemic shows more clearly than ever that individual action to tackle the climate crisis will never be enough without a parallel systemic change focused on emissions reductions. It’s not an either-or situation: Individual action and systemic change are both required to move the needle on climate change.

Update (June 15):  Carl Pope reports on the European Union's plans to stimulate the economy while taking action on climate change.