• SCB@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    All human air traffic combined is 2% of emissions. A private jet is not a big deal.

    Calling out private jets from rich people is a conservative tactic to make wealthy people who advocate for climate policy look like hypocrites. It’s a nonsensical position that was never intended to be thought through. It’s a kneejerk slogan for the boomer hordes.

    • mindfive@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      But it’s actually a problem. It measures whole percentage points, it’s not a rounding error.

      Dismissing an issue or person because conservatives are also using it as a punching bag doesn’t remove the problem, it just lets the conservatives control the narrative. I don’t think participating in that polarizing behavior is good or useful.

      • SCB@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        That’s all air travel. All.

        100,000 flights and 6 million people every day. A private jet is a drop in the bucket.

        • mindfive@lemm.ee
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          1 year ago

          Arguing semantics? All flights are equal? A loaded a380 is just like a 6 passenger Lear?

          If we argue that someone should take the bus or bike instead of drive, isn’t this the same argument?

          • SCB@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            No, because the intent is to reduce aggregate demand. One person’s life choices are completely irrelevant, but when you spread ideas like ride-sharing, public transport, and walking/biking, the goal is for many people to choose one or more of those options regularly.

            Long after we have carbon taxes, planes will still be flying.

            Do the math on one person flying alone on a Lear jet while running a lawnmower for fun just to pollute a little extra, vs 6 million other people taking 100,000 flights. Or don’t, because the math should be quite obvious.

            • mindfive@lemm.ee
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              1 year ago

              It’s not one person though, there are more private jets than commercial airliners. This thread started with the declaration that taking needless private flights over the Atlantic is negligible and we shouldn’t bother expressing frustration or ire that they continue.

              I never said we should stop flights, just that we can criticize irresponsible usage of it. Why is that such a sticking point here?

              • SCB@lemmy.world
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                1 year ago

                Because that argument only exists, only ever existed, to chip away at the credibility of wealthy people who are putting actual effort into fighting climate change