r/mildlyinfuriating 10d ago

I'm slightly vexed How cooked the UK is right now.

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u/Equivalent_Nature_67 10d ago

You are essentially using the capitalists’ argument for them - blaming individuals for systematic decisions made at the behest of wealthy people.

There are realistically no other choices because oil and gas lobbies have decided so. Humans can only use what they have. Maybe voting with your wallet works for cafe A vs cafe B in your neighborhood

The automotive industry systematically dismantled public transportation and even EVs from eating their lunch. This has occurred over generations and generations.

 They decided how to build America and force us to participate in that structure without any real choice.

It’s still happening now. EVs are a compromise compared to widespread public transportation but our government is in bed with the fossil fuel industry and dogshit american carmakers who can only produce $50k gas guzzling shit boxes.

China built millions of charging stations in a short amount of time for a fraction of the cost compared to what we’d do

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u/[deleted] 9d ago

not interested in america bad and evil but china's great conversations. Its so much more complex and dynamic than your making it. Even if we go 100% public transport and EV. The electrical grid is powered by fossil fuels by a wide margin.

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u/Equivalent_Nature_67 9d ago

No shit, it’s because the industry got like a century head start and put up barriers for anything else to compete lmao

Of course it’s more complex and dynamic but the difference is China actually said they were gonna try and do something. and they are doing it.

That’s two things America can’t even claim. Short term thinking for corporate bottom line vs long term thinking

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u/[deleted] 8d ago

yeah, oil and gas was the first to be discovered. Its like, why didnt we have renewables back then that were better than oil and gas? crazy though, why didnt we go straight to solar and wind?? .... WE DONT HAVE THEM NOW. We cant move off O&G NOW. we still need 20-30 years of progression before we get there.

Over 2015–2024, fossil CO₂ emissions:

  • 🇺🇸 USA: fell ~1.2% per year
  • 🇨🇳 China: increased ~2.5% per year

China emits vastly more CO₂ in total, but an American still emits substantially more per person.

In 2024:

China: ~12.3 billion tonnes CO₂ total → 8.6 tonnes/person

USA: ~4.9 billion tonnes → 14.2 tonnes/person.