In Defense of Eco-Hypocrisy.

“I have this recurring fear. In the not too distant future, the world is on the brink of a catastrophe.

Seas are rising. Species dying. Ecosystems disappearing. And civilization is strained to breaking point.

Nestled amidst the wreckage is a small group of hippies — many of them my friends — hiding away in an off-grid yurt.”

Read more of the essay that started the book.

We’re Thinking About Flying All Wrong.

“While it’s true that even a single international flight can add several tons of emissions to an individual’s carbon footprint, it’s also true that the vast majority of trips are taken by a tiny minority of people. (According to one study, a full 50% of aviation emissions can be attributed to just 1% of the population.) What that says to me is that we’re not short of low-hanging fruit.”

Read more about just one way that a focus on individual virtue can distract us from systems-level pressure points that change things for everyone.

The Most Important Question in Tackling the Climate Crisis.

“…Greta Thunberg recently delivered an important lesson in how to approach this conundrum. While she, herself, has gone to considerable lengths to avoid aviation, eat a plant-based vegan diet, and avoid excessive consumption, she has also refused to center the personal choices of herself – or anyone else – as the most relevant topic of discussion. Asked about celebrities who decry the climate crisis and fly in private jets, for example, her response was characteristically blunt:

‘I don’t care.’

Read more about how we can both take individual action and stay focused on bigger picture efforts.