waiting for the government to do something without actually making any lifestyle changes yourself basically amounts to “no one is doing anything about this, so why should I”.
As you mention and agree that only individual efforts cannot combat climate change, I am also NOT saying that only government action will work. I bought a Prius in 2012, and installed solar panels in 2018 that now produce 80% of our power consumption, recycle furiously, and practice all recommended climate-friendly actions, but I've also realized that it's simply not enough. You need to force people to act responsibly. The only way right now is to elect Democratic candidates and keep the pressure on them to enact climate-friendly policies (worked with Obama re: Keystone and now with Biden).
Also, that's why while I understand why the government in India wants to "develop rapidly" by doing the things that developed countries did in the past. But then, developing countries are often the first to feel the brunt of climate change. I hope leaders in India realize sooner than later.
@pratik let's take roof solar panels as an example. I live in an HOA that forbids them. as do countless other hoas. how is the government going to affect that? this is something that requires bottom up efforts by convincing ppl that the ugliness of the roof is less important than the climate change mitigation benefits. again, a lifestyle change for many ppl that they need to be made aware of, not something that government can actually control.
@wrenman Well, that's exactly what a government can control. The city can pass a regulation that no HOA can forbid the use of solar panels. You don't have to even talk to anyone at your HOA. Go straight to the top. You've a better chance of influencing a majority of council members and helping out the whole city instead of just your neighborhood.
That's what the city of Austin does, even in neighborhoods with HOA. We live in a non-HOA neighborhood coz that's a choice we made, but that's beside the point. The city of Austin, in fact, gives you $2,500 for installing solar panels PROVIDED they meet specific standards (UT Austin gave me an additional $1,000), so not any subpar equipment. Solar companies are aware of how much such incentives influence people's decision, giving them an incentive to up their standards. These incentives are separate from what Obama's admin ensured of paying for a third of the total cost. In fact, these incentives are the first things the vendors mention and only after that do they appeal to your environmental side. I also ended my post that I send to any of my local friends & acquaintances who ask about our solar panels by saying:
I’m sure you will crunch numbers to check if it makes financial sense to even install solar panels, just like I did. But at the core, you’re also planning for the future and reaping environmental karma points that are intended at reducing your carbon footprint.
PS. The post is hosted on a different platform because I don't want my IRL friends to know about this blog 😝
@pratik I still don't understand how we're going to elect a government who will enforce these rules on an entire township or county or state that are so unpopular they can't even be implemented at the grass roots level. and unpopular only because the "American dream" demands that your house be spectacular and have curb appeal for resale value. this is not going to fly anywhere outside a blue bubble. everywhere else ppl are going to have to change this attitude and lifestyle perhaps one HOA at a time.
@wrenman Good post. I think you always need both, but you get buy-in for the government action by individual action. For example, a lot of people here in Germany have installed solar panels on the balcony of their rental apartments, and now politics will make the process easier and allow you to use more power from those panels. When I’m walking through the neighborhood, every installed panel shows me that there are people who have a similar understanding of the climate crisis as I have and that is great. And that is why individual action is important.
@yatil that's exactly right. ideas have to percolate upwards for us to even get a government that will implement those ideas en masse
@wrenman I don't mean to suggest that we can only change at the federal level. Change will percolate up from the local government level. Heck, even at the HOA level. I agree about the "American dream" overpowering all efforts. Hence my push for denser housing. Personally, Ash and I have been discussing downsizing (even though we're on the smaller side of the usual desi house enough for them to call it "cozy") and moving to the urban core (once we don't have to depend on which school for our kid). I'm just saying as we go up one level in the government, the impact for change gets bigger. Conservatives know this well, so they aren't satisfied with not having abortions but making sure that no one else can. I hope not to impose my values on others but in terms of climate, we just might have to.
@pratik I agree that the government has to make a difference. I think the only point we disagree on is that I don't feel we have the time to wait for the government to make a difference. and this disagreement in itself might be the product of where I live (purple bubble) where white suburbanites get violently angry even at the idea of subsidized housing coming to their township. I just don't see radical change coming on the government side any time soon and I honestly believe we're out of time (this again might also be a fundamental disagreement)
@wrenman @Ddanielson @pratik @yatil Great post and conversation. Going to join in later when I've had proper time to read and digest. Really appreciating the recent conversations on micro.blog about climate action.
@yatil @wrenman @pratik I fully agree that government needs to overrule any HOA refusing to do the right thing for vanity reasons. I’m reminded of my condo corp making a stink about having mini-split AC units installed, because the external portions would look ugly. I don’t give a shit how they look, I want—and have the right—to be comfortable in my home. This kind of needless obstinacy serves no one. Turns out we can’t have them for other reasons, but with regards to the climate crisis there’s no room for stubbornness. Yet I can easily see this conversation garnering the same response with our board, should it ever come up.
Any legislative body refusing solar panels because they “look bad”, under current circumstances, should be embarrassed of themselves. Given the emergency we face, they should also not be allowed a choice.
@Ddanielson True. Climate change is not a question of values but rather an established scientific fact. Just as I would mandate vaccines, I would mandate climate-friendly policies. The debate about it being economically infeasible is over.
@wrenman In fact, I agree that we don't have the time hence my preference for action that "imposes" change rather than influence or motivate behavior change. What is the extent of imposition is something I am still grappling with. I live in a blue city which actually makes me angrier to see hypocritical behavior from liberals against climate-friendly policies (e.g., zoning for multi-family) than when I lived in a purple city (College Station). But yup, I also think we are out of time and, dare I admit, as someone with a kid, I'm more afraid for him than me.
@pratik I just don't think imposing anything on white suburbanites, no matter whether I believe it's a good thing or not, no matter whether they believe in climate change or not is a practical option at this specific point in time where your friendly neighborhood Nazis are adept at turning every issue into a "freedom" issue. look how quickly masks and vaccines in the middle of a damn global pandemic radicalized suburban "liberal" white parents and somehow turned them into anti-lgbtq bigots. look at what happened to Congress after Obamacare. this is what I mean when I say Nazis will weaponize the green backlash if government mandates are not prefaced by a change in individual mindsets through personal action combined with shouting these things from the rooftops. there has to be a more sustainable solution to such a critical issue than one that depends on who is in power. I can almost guarantee that if Pennsylvania passed a law tomorrow forcing hoas to allow solar panels on homes trump would win it by 15 points in 2024 even if he's convicted on all counts in every indictment.