In the De Broeikas section, climate reporter Jeroen Kraan writes every week about what strikes him. This week: The conveniences of our climate -disrupting lifestyle seem unassailable, even though we have only just had them.
“Wow, you really do it with muscle strength.” I was told that earlier this summer from a fellow campingeer in South Limburg, when she saw that my family was driving around with normal bicycles. And indeed: the roads in the beautiful hilly country seem to have been taken over by an army of e-bikes; The batterless bicycle has become an endangered species here.
I promise that this will not be a whining piece about the e-bike. But the fact that an ordinary city bike suddenly became an outsider made me think. It shows how incredibly fast we get used to the new gadgets that we, as consumers, are only too happy to sniff.
Unfortunately, many of those modern conveniences also have a less beautiful side. The fast fashion that we after wearing twice again leaves a trace of pollution. Our PFAS pans are not so healthy. And an attractively priced flight to Bali provides more climate warming than heating your house with gas for a whole year.
Climate activists who say that we have to fly less, or that flying should at least become much more expensive to reflect the real climate costs, quickly blame them for wanting to take the fun things in life. That you will not be allowed to do anything about the climate police later.
When flying was another exception
A considerable majority of the Dutch are in favor of more climate policy. But almost half think they are asked “to sacrifice too much to resolve climate change,” according to recent research by IPSOS I&O. It does not bear witness to the enormous luxury in which we live in this country, and the threat thereof that climate change entails.
Flying cheap and far is a very new achievement. When I was in primary school in the 1990s, it was an exception if you had been on vacation by plane. At the beginning of this century it became more and more normal, and now I see families around me who fly to the sun with a toddler at least once a year.
Would they remember that holidays for the introduction of flying at stunt prices were also fun? Or have they forgotten that, such as the hordes of e-bike tourists in Limburg may also have forgotten that you used to be sweaty (but proudly) at the top of the mountain?
Our lifestyle must also be different
Many Dutch people prefer to look at polluting companies or the government to tackle the climate problem, according to the IPSOS research. But we will still have to get used to it that we also have to go a little less with the climate -disrupting luxury.
Flying green is still an air mirroring; It is virtually unthinkable that we can produce sufficient sustainable energy and biogrond substances in the coming decades to provide all aircraft with green fuels. Certainly if we also give some development the rest of the world, and all Balinese people want to go to Amsterdam every year.
The Utrecht scientists Maarten Hajer and Jeroen Oomen argue in their recently published book Captured Futures convincingly that we have to look very differently at the Complet of Climate. According to them, we should not try to make our fossil society one-on-one, but dare to think about very different visions of the future and lifestyles that are climate and nature-friendly.
According to the scientists, our climate politics is currently so put together that such changes are almost non -negotiable. That is why politicians continue to tell us that we will also come up with technological solutions such as sustainable aviation fuel. The scientists argue for breaking that pattern, also in the media.
With these: to prevent climate change, a large -scale system change is required. That requires a lot of polluting companies and governments, but certainly also from ourselves. By the way, we don’t have to be afraid of that: my vacation in Limburg was wonderful, even with an old -fashioned bicycle.
In The Section The Greenhouse , Climate Reporter Jeroen Kraan Writes Weekly about what he notices. This week: The Conveniences of Our Climate-Disrupting Lifestyle Seem Untouchable, Even Thought We’ve only Just Goths them.
“Wow, you’re really doing it with muscle power.” I Heard That Earlier This Summer From A Fellow Camper In South Limburg When She Saw My Family Riding Around On Normal Bikes. And Indeed: The Roads in the Beautiful Heuvelland Seem to Have Been tasks over by army of e-bikes; The Uncharged Bicycle Has Become an endangered species here.
I promise this won be a rant about e-bikes. But the fact that a regular city bike has Suddenly Become An Outsider Got Me Thinking. It shows how incredible quickly we get used to the new gadgets that we are consumers are all too happy to indulge.
Unfortunately, Many of these Modern Conveniences also have a less Appealing Side. The Fast Fashion That We Throw Away After Wearing It Twice Leaves A Trail Of Pollution. Our Pfas Pans Turn Out Not To Be So Healthy After All. And an attractive priced plane trip to Bali Causes More Climate Warming than Heating Your House With Gas for An Entire Year.
Climate Activists Who Say That We Should Fly Less, or That Flying Should at Least Become Much More Exensive to Reflect The Real Climate Costs, Are Quickly Accused of Wanting to Take Away The Fun Things in Life. That you won Be Allowed to Do Anything by the Climate Police Soon.
When flying was still an exception
A Large Majority of Dutch People Are in Favor of More Climate Policy. But Almost Half Feel that they are Being Asked to “Sacrifice Too Much to Solve Climate Change,” Accordination to recent Research by Ipsos I & O. It does not show much insight into the incredible luxury we live in in this country, and the threat to it that climate change poses.
Flying Cheaply and Far is a very new acquisition. When I was in elementary school in the nineties, it was an exception if you had leg on vacation by plane. At the beginning of this century, it Became more and more normal, and now I see families everywhere around me flying to the sun with a toddler at least a year.
Would they remember that Vacations Were Fun Before the Introduction of Flying at Bargain Prices? Or have they forgotten that, just as the hordes of e-bike tourists in Limburg May have forgotten that you used to arrive sweaty (but proud) at the top of the mountain?
Our lifestyle must also change
Many Dutch People prefer to look to polluting companies or the government to tackle the climate problem, accordance to the psos survey. But we will have to get used to the fact that we too have to take it down a notch with climate-disrupting luxury.
Green Flying is Still A Mirage; It is Virtuelyy Unthinkable That We Will Be Able to Produce Enough Sustainable Energy and Bio-based Raw Materials in the Coming Decades to supply all aircraft with Green Fuels. Especial if we also grant the rest of the world some development, and all Balinese people will soon because to go on a city trip to Amsterdam every year.
Utrecht Scientists Maarten Hajer and Jeroen Oomen Convincingly Argue in Their recently published Book Captured Futures That We Need To Look At The Climate Future In A Completely Different Way. Accordance to them, we should not try to Green our fossil society one-on-one, but dare to think about completely different future visions and lifestyles that are climate and nature-friendly.
Accordance to the scientists, Our Climate Policy is Currently Structured in Such A Way That Such Changes Are Almost Unspeakable. That is why politicians continuous to tell us that we will also get there with technological solutions such as sustainable aviation fuel. The Scientists Advocate Breaking That Pattert, Including in The Media.
Hereby: To Combat Climate Change, A Large-Scale System Change is needed. That requests a lot from Polluting Companies and Governments, But Certainly also from Ourselves. We don’t have to be afraid of that, by the way: My Vacation in Limburg was Wonderful, equally with an old-fashioned bicycle.