For a greener earth, reduce consumption

NEW DELHI: Late last week, I saw (and sat in) a Tesla — the expensive and beautiful electric car and status symbol.

I sat in the gigantic Tesla SUV with the biggest screen of any car, I felt worried.

Was this the way ahead for climate change? For air pollution?

My concerns were exacerbated as I became part of a conversation on car reduction. Some of those on the chat suggested it was fair to have a car for every family member.

Some suggested one car per family. No one imagined a carless life, or at least, they did not express it, indicating it may not be on top of their mind.

There’s a problem there. It’s the model we subscribe to.

If fighting the biggest environmental problems of our lives is about consuming greener, rather than reducing consumption, we really are doomed.

To make a vehicle, even a greener one, metals are mined, plastics are refined, pollution is created and deforestation happens. It’s just that we emit less or (almost) no emissions.

I believe this is a myopic way to look at things. We just have to look at the life cycle of what we use, not its life with us.

That’s why organic cotton is becoming popular with those who can afford it, because, primarily, pesticides aren’t used for it, not because pesticides won’t rub off on our bodies.

So, really, unless you are poor, the greenest product is the one avoided, and the less green one is that with a clean life-cycle. It’s that simple.