Landmark quotes or hot air from our World Leaders?

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Comment by Phil James on October 9, 2009 at 10:42am

Hot air or not, I don't think we can rely on them to act quickly. Politicians will all be running their own agendas be it re-election, jobs after politics, fixing the economy, party room deal making etc, They are all making the same noises now but once they feel that their agendas are in danger of being compromised things will inevitably slow down. World diplomacy can be a slow process,(unless of course your agenda is to overthrow oil rich countries and enact draconian legislation at home to control the people you are meant to represent; woops.. we might leave that for another discussion.)
I think we are treading a dangerous path if we rely too much on our political and business leaders for swift action. In one breath they are saying reduce emissions in the next they are saying stimulate our economies. Fundamentally these two ideologies are at odds with each other. One relies on reduced production, the other on increased. The ‘big picture’ ideas they are talking about are valid, and necessary (carbon sequestion, renewable energy, carbon trading) but they will all take time, either to build the infrastructure or to reach consensus.
All is not lost however; I think as individuals we can sometimes feel a bit overwhelmed by the task at hand and forget that as a whole, we can make a difference; a huge difference. I believe that the swiftest action available is for individuals to act now. I have no doubt the pollies will eventually catchup and enact their legislation which will bring some fantastic long term benefits in emissions reduction, but if we want immediate change it is up to us.
As individuals we quite often look to blame something else for our problems.

Emissions are ultimately caused by consumption, not production. It is our consumption that creates demand for increased production and therefore increased emissions. If we were to reduce consumption by 10% in as many aspects of our life as possible and utilise existing technology so as to retain our standards of living, but reduce our carbon footprint, we can make an immediate difference, as in today, right now.
Think about it; don’t order a 500 gram steak order a 450 gram, do you really think you’ll notice the difference. Leave the car at home one workday a fortnight and take public transport, ride a bike, walk or get a lift with a colleague. Instead of taking a 10 minute shower, have a 9 minute shower. If purchasing a new appliance is unavoidable, then purchase the most energy efficient one. Manufacturers will respond far quicker to consumer demand than government legislation. If you can, buy second hand, you’ll save money, you might be trendy and you’ll help reduce demand for more stuff to be manufactured.
Think of how many aspects of your life you can make a 10% reduction in your consumption without adversely affecting your standard of living. You may even find an increase in standard of living through weight loss, feeling fitter, saving money and the satisfaction that can be gained through taking control.
I would love to hear from people about their ideas to reduce by 10%.

Comment by James Dawson on September 25, 2009 at 12:21pm

Mainly hot air.
Also they often do the opposite to what they say - Obama is good at that ;-)

Comment by Nils Davis on September 25, 2009 at 2:52am

Lee - thanks for sharing these quotes. They certainly sound promising! I don't think I have a favorite, although Obama's mention that we've done more in eight months than in the entire previous era is definitely the most embarrassing for me as an American.