In order to save the planet from catastrophic climate change, Americans will have to cut their energy use by more than 90 percent and families of four should live in housing no larger than 640 square feet. That's at least according to a team of European researchers led by University of Leeds sustainability researcher Jefim Vogel. In their new study, "Socio-economic conditions for satisfying human needs at low energy use," in Global Environmental Change, they calculate that public transportation should account for most travel. Travel should, in any case, be limited to between 3,000 to 10,000 miles per person annually.
Vogel and his colleagues set themselves the goal of figuring out how to "provide sufficient need satisfaction at much lower, ecologically sustainable levels of energy use." Referencing earlier sustainability studies they argue that human needs are sufficiently satisfied when each person has access to the energy equivalent of 7,500 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per capita. That is about how much energy the average Bolivian uses. Currently, Americans use about 80,000 kWh annually per capita. With respect to transportation and physical mobility, the average person would be limited to using the energy equivalent of 16–40 gallons of gasoline per year. People are assumed to take one short- to medium-haul airplane trip every three years or so.
In addition, food consumption per capita would vary depending on age and other conditions, but the average would be 2,100 calories per day. While just over 10 percent of the world's people are unfortunately still undernourished, the Food and Agriculture Organization reports that the daily global average food supply now stands at just under 3,000 calories per person. Each individual is allocated a new clothing allowance of nine pounds per year, and clothes may be washed 20 times annually. The good news is that everyone over age 10 is permitted a mobile phone and each household can have a laptop.
How do Vogel and his colleagues arrive at their conclusions? First, they assert that "globally, large reductions in energy use are required to limit global warming to 1.5°C." The 1.5°C temperature increase limit they cite derives from the 2015 Paris Agreement in which signatories agreed to hold "the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels."
Speaking of Michigan - the worst governor ever may be in trouble
As President Biden visited Traverse City, Mich. over the weekend, talk of the decline in voter approval for Biden ally and Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer dominated political talk in the Wolverine State.
Most of the talk about Whitmer’s decline centers on a recent Competitive Edge Research poll showing that among likely voters statewide, the governor actually loses to former Detroit Police Chief and leading GOP hopeful James Craig by 45% to 38%.
Echoing the views of many Michiganders of varying political leanings, former State GOP Chairman and Republican National Committeeman Saul Anuzis told Newsmax that “Whitmer has disenfranchised voters across the state. If she can’t get her fair share of votes from outstate [outside Detroit], it makes it challenging for her.”
Anuzis added that “[a]ssuming Craig can outperform in Detroit because of his record as police chief, Michigan is definitely in play.”
Whitmer’s vulnerable standing at this point is usually attributed to her ordering an extended lockdown in the state that dealt a severe blow to Michigan’s restaurants and other small businesses.
Earlier this year, Michiganders voted to strip Whitmer of the emergency powers through which she ordered the lockdown.
In order to save the planet from catastrophic climate change, Americans will have to cut their energy use by more than 90 percent and families of four should live in housing no larger than 640 square feet. That's at least according to a team of European researchers led by University of Leeds sustainability researcher Jefim Vogel. In their new study, "Socio-economic conditions for satisfying human needs at low energy use," in Global Environmental Change, they calculate that public transportation should account for most travel. Travel should, in any case, be limited to between 3,000 to 10,000 miles per person annually.
Vogel and his colleagues set themselves the goal of figuring out how to "provide sufficient need satisfaction at much lower, ecologically sustainable levels of energy use." Referencing earlier sustainability studies they argue that human needs are sufficiently satisfied when each person has access to the energy equivalent of 7,500 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per capita. That is about how much energy the average Bolivian uses. Currently, Americans use about 80,000 kWh annually per capita. With respect to transportation and physical mobility, the average person would be limited to using the energy equivalent of 16–40 gallons of gasoline per year. People are assumed to take one short- to medium-haul airplane trip every three years or so.
In addition, food consumption per capita would vary depending on age and other conditions, but the average would be 2,100 calories per day. While just over 10 percent of the world's people are unfortunately still undernourished, the Food and Agriculture Organization reports that the daily global average food supply now stands at just under 3,000 calories per person. Each individual is allocated a new clothing allowance of nine pounds per year, and clothes may be washed 20 times annually. The good news is that everyone over age 10 is permitted a mobile phone and each household can have a laptop.
How do Vogel and his colleagues arrive at their conclusions? First, they assert that "globally, large reductions in energy use are required to limit global warming to 1.5°C." The 1.5°C temperature increase limit they cite derives from the 2015 Paris Agreement in which signatories agreed to hold "the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels."
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Vogel and his colleagues set themselves the goal of figuring out how to "provide sufficient need satisfaction at much lower, ecologically sustainable levels of energy use." Referencing earlier sustainability studies they argue that human needs are sufficiently satisfied when each person has access to the energy equivalent of 7,500 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per capita. That is about how much energy the average Bolivian uses. Currently, Americans use about 80,000 kWh annually per capita. With respect to transportation and physical mobility, the average person would be limited to using the energy equivalent of 16–40 gallons of gasoline per year. People are assumed to take one short- to medium-haul airplane trip every three years or so.
In addition, food consumption per capita would vary depending on age and other conditions, but the average would be 2,100 calories per day. While just over 10 percent of the world's people are unfortunately still undernourished, the Food and Agriculture Organization reports that the daily global average food supply now stands at just under 3,000 calories per person. Each individual is allocated a new clothing allowance of nine pounds per year, and clothes may be washed 20 times annually. The good news is that everyone over age 10 is permitted a mobile phone and each household can have a laptop.
How do Vogel and his colleagues arrive at their conclusions? First, they assert that "globally, large reductions in energy use are required to limit global warming to 1.5°C." The 1.5°C temperature increase limit they cite derives from the 2015 Paris Agreement in which signatories agreed to hold "the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels."
Trying to make sense of the numbers
... to own the Cons.
Fascinating story though.
As President Biden visited Traverse City, Mich. over the weekend, talk of the decline in voter approval for Biden ally and Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer dominated political talk in the Wolverine State.
Most of the talk about Whitmer’s decline centers on a recent Competitive Edge Research poll showing that among likely voters statewide, the governor actually loses to former Detroit Police Chief and leading GOP hopeful James Craig by 45% to 38%.
Echoing the views of many Michiganders of varying political leanings, former State GOP Chairman and Republican National Committeeman Saul Anuzis told Newsmax that “Whitmer has disenfranchised voters across the state. If she can’t get her fair share of votes from outstate [outside Detroit], it makes it challenging for her.”
Anuzis added that “[a]ssuming Craig can outperform in Detroit because of his record as police chief, Michigan is definitely in play.”
Whitmer’s vulnerable standing at this point is usually attributed to her ordering an extended lockdown in the state that dealt a severe blow to Michigan’s restaurants and other small businesses.
Earlier this year, Michiganders voted to strip Whitmer of the emergency powers through which she ordered the lockdown.
I blame white supremacy.