Chapter 2 - Undoing Atmospheric Harm: Civil Action to Shrink the Carbon Footprint

Abstract

This chapter explores the politics of transformation needed to end the dangerous experiment in climate change now under way due to the failure of industrialized societies. Global climate change represents the major environmental challenge of the modern era. An imposing body of scientific evidence links climate change to anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Carbon dioxide (CO2) contributes more than three quarters of GHG emissions from human activity. In turn, more than 95% of global CO2 emissions are due to fossil fuel burning and land use. Historical data shows that carbon concentrations have increased 35% from pre-industrial levels of 280 parts per million (ppm), to reach the current 380 ppm. An important aspect of future CO2 emissions involves the location of these emissions. Currently, most fossil fuel-based CO2 emissions originate in industrialized countries. However, rapid economic development and high population growth are expected to significantly increase the share of such emissions attributed to Southern countries. The need for an explicit commitment to carbon equity is essential to the realization of climate sustainability. Equity has both theoretical and practical groundings in concerns for sustainability. The beneficial economic impacts of renewable energy development can be linked in part to its reliance on “free” fuel inputs, particularly as greater reliance on natural gas-sourced electricity in the US has resulted in growing power price volatility. There is a need to combine global agendas of carbon equity and climate sustainability to successfully address the problem of climate change.