Green Consumers Make No Difference
Posted: Thu 10 Jun 2010, 15:36:3625-30% of emissions come from products and services that are produced in one country then traded to another, according to Barrett.
... Really? How is that surprising?
The truly startling revelation from Barrett's data on the growth of UK greenhouse gas emissions from consumer goods and services was the degree to which strategies for "greening" consumption have failed:
* "Green products" have less impact in reducing emissions than most people think. The growth of green consumption has not reduced emissions.
* Gains in emissions reductions from technological advances have been wiped out by increases in consumption as people demand higher levels of affluence.
* The UK's 50-70% of gains from home energy conservation are lost when they're redirected for other resource consumption, by people buying other goods and services with the money saved.
World Changing - hat tip to Yves Smith @ Naked Capitalism.
That Jeavon, just can't get away from him - if you plan to shop til we all drop that is.
