#Sufficiency: less toil, less #work, less production and less #consumption are the only way we’re going to continue surviving on this planet. To fight global warming, we really need to chill.

#BullshitJobs #ExportingEmissions #ExportingHumanRightsEmissions
#ObliviousConsumption #GuaranteedBasicIncome

https://annamercury.medium.com/work-sucks-why-are-we-still-obsessed-with-it-85133d26042

More than 150 car models too big for regular parking spaces
The ‘autobesity’ epidemic eats up public spaces

"More than 150 car models are now too big to fit in average car parking spaces. While the size of the standard parking bay has remained static for decades, cars have been growing longer and wider in a phenomenon known as “autobesity”."

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/aug/26/more-than-150-car-models-too-big-for-regular-uk-parking-spaces
#cars #consumption #autobesity #SUV #pedestrians #safety #PublicSpace #climate

Fossil fuels being subsidised at rate of $13m a minute, says IMF

"Countries have pledged to phase out subsidies for years to ensure the price of fossil fuels reflects their true environmental costs, but have achieved little to date...Ending the subsidies should be the centrepiece of climate action."

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/24/fossil-fuel-subsidies-imf-report-climate-crisis-oil-gas-coal
#FossilFuels #consumption #heatwaves #bushfires #floods #governance #risks

" #Neoliberalism has a bail out problem...defacto socialized investmt is req'd to keep it propped up...Great Recession, Pandemic, etc. 'Free-mkt' #business logic is actually a myth we never discuss, yt we're all losing faith in the current growth thru #consumption model."

And above this level, our economy's formula is just flat out illogical: Infinite Growth = Finite Resources. -Christian Parenti/ #Capitalism & How we got Here
This #UpstreamPodcast is awesome. #economy https://www.upstreampodcast.org/conversations

Bicycles, EBikes and BCycles

Let’s, just this once, ask if a new invention and industry is really necessary before sailing off, eyes closed and brain on hold, into yet another capitalist consumer Nervana.

https://open.substack.com/pub/michaelalewis/p/bicycles-ebikes-and-bcycles?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

#Bicycles #Bicycling #EBikes #Consumption #Capitalism

And to Russ Mitchell's point, if you're getting an #EV because it's a fancy new toy, perhaps reconsider your why, as #consumption and #affluence go hand in hand with the #ClimateEmergency.

But also, as I hear again and again from climate scientists, we must stop burning fossil fuels. The burning is our biggest problem.

Do EVs still get power from fossil fuel-run plants? Yup. But that will soon change.

There's no perfect #ClimateSolution. But a used or rented EV is a great place to start.

Mobile sprawl
How tourists are ruining the world’s greatest destinations

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/aug/17/wish-you-werent-here-how-tourists-are-ruining-the-worlds-greatest-destinations
#Overtourism #travelling #sprawl #stayaway #housing #climate #consumption

#canada #usa

In contrast, #degrowth aims to downscale #production and #consumption in wealthy nations and increase human and #ecologicalwellbeing and #globalequity. The focus on what grows and on who that growth benefits is the essential difference between the two frameworks.
Well then, why not rebrand degrowth according to its positives?
#foodforthought
https://www.resilience.org/stories/2022-08-30/degrowth-no-lets-not-call-it-something-else/

The #trade data showed that #exports remained resilient over the last quarter, led by #auto shipments to US and #Europe – The drop in #consumption reflects the impact of wages lagging behind cost-push #inflation.

So reading that iPhone14 users complain about battery life degrading 10% after the first year, makes me reconsider buying a new iPhone in September. Battery life often is the no 1 driver for a lot of people, no? #apple #consumption

So much for fighting #climatechange

“Global #oil demand reached a record high of 103m barrels per day in June, according to the International Energy Agency, an official forecaster. The surge came from increased oil use in power generation, and rebounding air travel during the summer months. The IEA reckons that crude prices will continue to rise as OPEC+, the world’s largest oil cartel and allies, cuts production.” - The Economist newsletter.

#ClimateCrisis #environment #consumption

You know that feeling when you finish yet another self-development book, and all excited about your “new you”, but as days pass, nothing happens? Or worse, you get fatigued?

I might have an answer for you. And no, it’s not a course, or a masterclass. Just sharing wisdom.

A while back ago, I read an interesting blog post. The author was talking about the ratio of consumption and creation.

#creation #consumption #content

EVs are a green #consumption solution driven by the inertia of affluence that magically assumes everyone can afford to trade in their already embodied carbon vehicles & spend 2x as much to emit more carbon manufacturing a new car that uses new #LimitedResources like lithium in 10yr lifetime batteries that are only recycled at a rate of 5%. All we need to do is issue mandates to car companies and build a massive network of charging station infrastructure.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3211385/

@NaturaArtisMagistra

We have to reduce #consumption significantly in every area of our lives including travel.

In terms of cars that means #EV range capped at 100mi. Along with size and weight caps like Japanese kei cars. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kei_car

Energy used in driving is heavily dependent on weight. So much is wasted on giant electric SUVs carrying 3x the needed heavy batteries to drive less than 10 miles 80% of the time. It's insanity.

US economic growth and the composition of GDP - Note the significant difference in Europe, especially in #Germany, where anti- #consumption measures are paramount, chart @JPMorganAM

The student #loan moratorium’s end and resumption of payments on Oct. 1 present a near-term headwind to US #consumption, adding $200-$300 in monthly payments for borrowers, chart @MorganStanley

Today I learned about Earth Overshoot Day which is the day in a given year when “the world as a whole is exceeding its renewable biocapacity” (see W_Lucht@mstdn.social)
For the 🌍 that day falls on August 2nd. For 🇨🇦 it’s a shocking March 13th. March 13th! Let that sink in.

I think we Canadians need to do more. And quickly. There’s no time to lose.

Great 🇨🇦 info here -
BC’s Times Colonist -
https://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/trevor-hancock-we-just-overshot-our-fair-share-of-the-earth-for-2023-6723589
#sufficiency #sustainability #EarthOvershootDay #consumption

ROUNDTABLE AIMED AT ENDING DOG AND CAT MEAT TRADE

The fight against the #dog and #CatMeat trade has a profound effect on all of us, most of all the millions of dogs and cats who are stolen and killed every year in #Asia.

On 4 July, #SoiDog Foundation and Social and Behavior Change Science Agency #Intelligentmedia were extremely proud to hold a roundtable discussion at the #VietnameseNationalAssembly aimed at combatting the #consumption and trade of dog and cat meat.

1/3

#Latvia's #electricity consumption totalled 491 GWh in June 2023, which was the lowest monthly figure since June 2005, transmission system operator Augstsprieguma Tikls (AST) reported. Electricity #consumption declined by 9% over a year and 5% over a month.

https://viabaltica.fi/latvia-electricity-consumption-lowest-since-2005-in-june-2023/

#Estonia's economic climate index stood at -19.4 points in June 2023, which was down by almost 9 points from March 2023, the Estonian Institute of Economic Research reports. Nevertheless, experts are optimistic about #investments and private #consumption, and they expect the #economy to improve by the end of 2023.

https://viabaltica.fi/estonia-economy-expected-to-improve-by-end-of-2023-eki/