TLDR; We are all somewhere on the path towards carbon awareness and carbon positivity. We need to build awareness about our footprint, build “intentionality” about our carbon consumption, and we need to do something about it. Let’s commit to getting steadily better. Just as important, let’s make space for others going the same direction, even if they travel a slightly different path than our own.
Now, on to the confessional portion of the post:
I live in Kansas City, the true home of American Barbecue (gauntlet thrown). My favorite barbecue place is Joe’s KC, and I particularly like their barbecue beef sandwich, the Z-man. We go there every few months when visitors come to town. It’s a really enjoyable treat.
I like to travel. The wife and I enjoy visiting family around the United States, and we hope there is at least one more trip to Europe ahead of us.
I like long showers. I have a skin condition that improves markedly with the lengthy soak. I even shave my bald head in the shower, while I think about the project Let’s Own This! (“LOT”).
Each of these habits might be considered worthy of condemnation, because they generate an outsized carbon footprint. The condemnation is not unwarranted.
On the other hand, I eat less beef than I used to and I really enjoy the meatless chorizo at Chipotle; When I travel for pleasure, I try to stay there a little longer to make sure I get full value, and try to fly direct; And, maybe TMI, since the pandemic started, I don’t even take a shower every day (Oh, did I just write that out loud?).
So, I’ve offered mitigating factors for each of these CO2-producing habits. I have reason to feel less bad about myself because of the described modifications. And let’s admit, there is absolutely no way to completely avoid generating CO2 when you happen to be alive, so getting to zero carbon emissions is out of the question. The mantra “reduce, reuse, recycle” comes to mind; in it there lies an inconvenient truth, that zero personal emissions is impossible.
But back to my confessions and my radical openness: Why should I have to justify my specific behavior to anyone anyway? Shouldn’t I object to others judging me, nitpicking me, criticizing me? It’s none of their business, right? I’m dealing with my own self, and it doesn’t help when it seems like others are condemning me. You do you, I’ll do me.
At LOT we’re trying to participate in (and build) a giant movement, in which people build AWARENESS of their footprint, become INTENTIONAL about their consumption, and then do SOMETHING about it. They might decide to have shorter campfires when they go camping, or decide not to cool their house on a hot summer day when they are at the beach, or decide to become a vegan. They might also consider buying carbon offsets, or participate directly in carbon offset projects. All of these things move them along a path towards carbon positivity.
A good thing about LOT carbon accounts is that they provide useful information, and then let you decide what to do about it. This is similar to a bank account, where you can avoid bouncing dollar-denominated checks any number of ways, including getting a job, turning off one of your entertainment subscriptions, or switching to generic brand packaged goods. No one is in a better position than YOU to make these decisions. Your goal may be to shrink your footprint by a ton each year. Have at it; figure out the best way for you to get there!
Movements fall apart when the squabbling and judgement starts. Some people may find my confessed behaviors galling, and entirely off putting, and I wouldn’t blame them. Especially the showering part. I mean, what about the suffering of my poor family! Shame on me.
Remember, our goal is to steadily change habits, over days, weeks and years. Consumers will steadily change the cars they drive to be more eco-friendly, and figure out how not to drive to work every day. They might even take the bus more often.
Changes in consumers’ lives will still be more rapid than changes from companies and governments. We need to get out in front of them, to express directly the need for them to change policy and production. We need to lead them, because, at least in the United States, it is unlikely they will lead us.
Let’s remember we are united by the desire to have a habitable earth, now and into the future, and that what unites us is MUCH greater than what divides us.
Let’s Own This!
