We need to live better
Editor: Last week, the first Tesla Model 3 rolled off the assembly line. When Elon Musk first unveiled the electric vehicle with the purpose to enable mass adoption, he thanked those who purchased the significantly costlier predecessors for making the 3 possible.
While not the magic bullet, it’s proof that it is possible to get the future if humanity chooses to leverage its capital toward solutions that can save the planet.
There are continuous reports about the impacts of climate change, death of our oceans, and that we could be facing the greatest mass extinction in history.
Meanwhile, Canada needs 3.7 earths to support our level of consumption, among the highest in the world. It’s an interesting statistic to think about as Canada celebrates 150 years of achievements.
It begs the question of why our wealth and ingenuity is not leading in creating a society that can lead drastic change toward living within our planet’s means.
Why are we blatantly trying to accelerate our demise? Our conspicuous consumption is boundless and the runaway housing market is seeing the greatest transfer of wealth, creating instant millionaires.
This week, a minimum-code house built across from me that will lock its carbon footprint for at least 50 years sold for almost a million dollars and I’m certain it cost far less to build.
Still, cost is an excuse for meaningful action to live more efficiently. Solar panels, passivehouse homes that use 75 per cent less energy, and low-carbon transportation options are all economically viable within reasonable time spans.
Yet multiple depreciating gas guzzling vehicles, and uncomfortable excessively large homes with costly cosmetic features that increase energy costs and ecological footprint are predominant.
Ironically, congestion, parking, carbon taxes and gas and electricity prices in Kelowna are a constant headline gripe, but actions prove it doesn’t bother us much.
It’s proof that economics is a red herring and an unlimited amount of wealth won’t save us.
The problem is our culture glorifies consumerism and we don’t think that we collectively need to live within a finite footprint. This is an ethical and equity issue.
So what does half billion dollars in building permits approved this year for minimumcode construction and $100,000 Rover Rovers with combined fuel consumption of 16 miles per gallon infiltrating our streets say about us?
It is my hope it makes us feel we owe something to others among us and future generations to enjoy the awesome world we have inherited. That we think of our life’s purpose beyond consumer cog, and confidently act within the full capacity of our influence to create a future we’d like to live in.
Robert Stupka, Kelowna