(January 16, 2012 at 11:23 am)Justtristo Wrote: I believe Australians are using too much natural resources and could cut down on their consumption without affecting the quality of their lives (measurements of living standards a highly subjective in my opinion). Essentially they drive big fuel guzzling cars, live in over-sized energy inefficient houses and etc. Changing Australians lifestyles to be more sustainable environmentally would likely require measures which would be considered fascist by many. However I could not care less.
Let me elaborate my positions on this particular issue.
Since anthropogenic climate change is a reality, in order to combat it we need to switch our dependence on greenhouse gas emitting fossil fuels to energy sources which dont emit greenhouse gases. Also not to mention change practices in households and industries which are also major sources of greenhouse gases emissions.
From an Australian perspective, practices like "urban consolation" are actually increasing greenhouse gas emissions, not reducing them. Because the apartments and row-houses being built often have much higher energy requirements (through the increased requirement for heating and cooling), than say a detached house on a quarter acre block. A reasonable sized detached house on a large lot, through inexpensive measures is much easier to cool and heat than higher density housing.
So decreasing urban densities done the right way can decrease greenhouse gas emissions from our major cities. Also reducing traffic congestion through building more freeways, arterial roads, improving public transport even with lower urban densities can reduce greenhouse gases emissions markedly. Since vehicle greenhouse emissions are lower when traveling at 90kph than when they are traveling at 30kph. Also any technological changes to motor vehicles which would them much more fuel efficient would offset any increased reliance on automotive transport.
However our coal industry, not to mention the reliance of coal for electricity (which includes urban trains which are mostly electric) needs to go the way of the dodo.
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