As little Greta threatens to line up elected officials and do something to them if they do not follow her vision of what climate considerations look like, the United States of America is doing something amazing—reducing carbon emissions to the lowest levels since the 1990s and to lower levels than the so-called Paris Climate Accord.
The great humorist and write, Mark Steyn said at CPAC a few years ago something like this, “Congress can’t even balance a budget but we expect them to control the heavens with legislation.”
The big problem with the Paris Climate Accord was that the big polluters, China and India, we basically given a pass. India and China add up to almost 3 billion people. That’s roughly 42% of the world’s population, if they aren’t playing, how do we win?
Capitalism.
You want to know why the United States of America is doing better than most of the rest of developing countries in reducing carbon emissions? By the way, you will not hear that anywhere but you can find it if you look in scientific journals and Google searches. The reason is capitalism.
Major corporations are responding to their consumers. Most of us want less plastic, more recyclables, less waste, more electric cars with more places to charge them and generally, a more accountable and efficient output. Because of that, corporations from electric companies, to soft drink manufacturers, to everything in-between are looking for solutions that will achieve these goals and help them make a profit.
I have changed my views on many of these things. I want to use less single use plastic and am finding ways to do that. I recycle and compost more. Am I perfect at it? No, I’m not, but I’m trying.
The United States is doing better, now when will the world turn to China and India and demand the same?
