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14 November 2009
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| CARBON BUDGET |
| Keywords:
environment
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climate change
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Al Gore has a new book out. There's lots of discussion going on about the COP 15 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December (here is the best description of the ongoing negotiations I've read so far).
That's all on a grand scale, but lot's of people ask "what can I do?" There are plenty of 'carbon calculators' out there to help you figure out how much carbon your lifestyle adds to the environment. One of my favorite approaches, however, is by a guy named Saul Griffith, and is presented on the Watts On website. Saul's an engineer, and has chosen to use watts instead of carbon to measure a lifestyle. If you have a fast enough internet connection, go watch this video for Saul's explanation of why he uses watts.
But what's the use of calculating how much carbon you're spewing into the air, or how many watts your lifestyle requires? On a business/government scale, there's lots of discussion of a carbon-based 'cap and trade' system. It would place a limit on the amount of carbon a company can emit, and prescribe consequences (fees) if it emits more than allowed. That's the 'cap' part. The 'trade' part would allow companies that do not emit as much carbon as they are allowed to sell that excess allowance to the companies who go over their carbon limits. It's a way to have that somewhat ethereal force called 'the market' help companies find a balance between profitability and environmental responsibility.
The readers of this blog aren't businesses though, so what about individuals? As I mentioned above, there are lots of options for creating your own 'carbon budget' or, on the Watt's On website, an energy budget. But what do you do with that? The cap and trade system is trying to make carbon more like a currency... to make it equivalent to money in some ways (allowing companies to sell their carbon allowance for cash). So what would it take to do that for individuals? Most households have a financial budget. What would it take for households to create a carbon or energy budget?
What this all leads to is an idea that struck me last week. Financial budgets are difficult to argue with. When Mom tells her daughter that "I'm sorry honey, but we can't afford a trip to Disneyland this year," there isn't much response to that. Whining and throwing a tantrum might help the kid eventually calm down, but it's not going to get her to Disneyland. If we're talking about businesses limiting their carbon output, when will it fall to households to do the same? I'm not talking about government regulation or control here, more about the social aspect of it. What if the statement was "I'm sorry honey, but going to Disneyland would put us over our carbon budget for the year"? Right now, that sounds a little strange even to me. But is there a cultural shift coming... one in which carbon and energy are promoted to nearly the same level as money in how they affect families' decisions and actions? A shift like that might be needed to keep the planet from warming too much.
No pictures again today... I wanted to get this post out as quickly as possible. I'll get some posted in the coming week.
For more updates go here.
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| Comments: |
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15 November 2009
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Interesting idea. I think one challenge is coming up with a meaningful "cap" at the household level since current carbon neutrality claims seem to be based a lot on the concept of carbon offsets which also relates money to carbon. (Maybe it could be seen as the "trade" without the "cap") When we talk about carbon budgets, some of the global issues also translate to the household - do poor people individually have a right to use dirty energy because they can't pay for offsets? I think when you set up carbon=money then you have blurred the lines of a separate carbon budget and really created just one budget based on money. |
| - Rafael Mandujano |
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15 November 2009
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Am I distracted enough by the theme of this post that's close to my heart to notice the missing captions, I mean, photographs again? Nnnn...ot quite.
Thanks for the previous set of snapshots. An engaging blend of work and play that made for yet another educative session of Life In A Land Far, Far Away.
Note to (your)self: Remember to check The Horse's tank bag for your camera/card reader before hitting Upload. ;-) |
| - Kate |
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17 November 2009
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A very interesting thought - a personal carbon/energy budget. Something else to slap on my list of goals for 2010.
Impressive improv work with the cylinder head cover. Hope you've got the replacement part by now. |
| - Jude |
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29 November 2009
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Thanks for your thoughts, Raf, Kate and Jude.
True, setting up carbon=money in a cap-and-trade sense does blur the lines somewhat. What if money is taken out of the equation (as much as possible), rather than forced into it? I'm curious about the creation of a cultural stigma associated with using "too much" energy or living a lifestyle that emits "too much" carbon. Many climate crusaders frame the problem as a moral one... will that ever stick enough within Western culture to make it socially unacceptable to fly for pleasure, for example? |
| - Mark (RoamingCavetroll) |
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3 December 2009
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Mark, you're right about the feeling of being judged on moral grounds for pursuing optional activities that require more energy in various forms e.g. travel, of course, but travel gear, specific equipment, non re-usable food & drink options. The guilt is compounded when I go to places that were hitherto unknown. So, do I push ahead for my personal growth and pleasure knowing fully well the toll it takes on the environment? Or should I stay put and educate myself without that first hand experience? Tough call. I've scaled back my travel and travel related ambitions for this very reason. I thought it would be hard to live with, but I'm pleasantly surprise (and relieved!) to find I'm at peace with my choices. This quote by Jane Goodall makes it a little easier for me:
What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.
And to those who make choices different from mine, I say, "Vive la difference!" |
| - Victoria |
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My name is Mark. I was born near Chicago, have lived in the US, Germany and Nepal, and am starting a new job and a new adventure in Ethiopia. This site is a way for me to keep friends and family updated on my progress, share some pictures, and perhaps offer a bit of reflection along the way. Please look around, and enjoy the ride!
Herumwandernder Cavetroll... heisse Mark. Ich habe in den USA, Deutschland und Nepal gewohnt, und jetzt geht es weiter nach Äthiopien. Mit diesem Website halte ich meine Familien- und Freundeskreise informiert über wie es mir in meinen Abenteuern geht. Schau mal 'rum, und viel Spass dabei!
-Mark, September 2008
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