What is the role of domestic consumption in cuttting down carbon emissions? Scotland can lead the world by ensuring that at least 80% of the effort to reach targets is achieved through reductions in domestic emissions rather than through the purchase of carbon credits.
It is important to really examine whether we are meeting our targets by reducing consumption, or merely through the purchase of carbon credits. Targets met through reduction of consumption means that people are really addressing issues of energy consumption in their lifestyle. If Scotland sets out a limit on the number of international credits that can be used to meet its emission reduction targets it would be the first industralised nation to do so by making evident its willingness to make deep cuts at home. A limit on the use of international credits would also help reduce the scepticism amongst developing nations that rich countries are unwilling to examine overconsumption issues prevalent in the lifestyle of their populations.
A reliance on international credits to cosmetically help us reach our emission targets merely shows our ability to buy ourselves out of a problem instead of collectively shouldering our resposibility with all other nations.
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The cartoon was done by Radu Stoita
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