So Which 88% Goes?

David Warren points out that two Japanese researchers have calculated out the sacrifices necessary to reach the carbon emission goal stated at the G-8 summit. Their conclusion: a modest 88% of the North American emissions would have to be cut off. 

So which part of the economy would you like to shut down? 

The 88 per cent is the figure for North America. The Europeans get off relatively easily: they only have to shut down 83 per cent of their economy; the Japanese 85 per cent. Only 35 per cent of the Chinese economy will have to go. And good news for India, much of which is still living in the Arcadian low-carbon past. The Indians get to gun their carbon emissions by 137 per cent over the next four decades.

With the insouciance of a charming zombie, Mr. Kanie added that he did not think the goal out of reach. "I think it is a matter of changing lifestyle and not necessarily in an austere way," he said. "For example, I often ride my bike instead of driving a car." He thought the government should provide more bicycle infrastructure.

Thank you for that suggestion, Mr. Kanie. After an incident I witnessed on the street the other day, I myself wish to be rid of cars. And after another incident on the street the day after, I would also like to be rid of bicycles: so I can go Mr Kanie one better.

And let me add a brilliant suggestion, all of my own. I have often thought that the world's food consumption — and all the extravagantly CO2-emitting factory and transport infrastructure that supports it — could be reduced by more than half, if we would just stop eating on odd-numbered days. I say "more than half" because, as I recall in Lent, people's appetites decline with reduced food consumption, so they'll tend to eat less on the even-numbered days, too. The scheme would also eliminate over a billion people now living at subsistence levels.

Warren adds that he is being sarcastic with that last suggestion. But of course, there are people who are actually advocating along those lines. So, which 88% will be selected to be eliminated? And who chooses?