Using Local Knowledge to Shrink the Individual Carbon Footprint

Abstract

Entire texts have been devoted to exploring the meaning of the term “lifestyle” and sociological understandings of lifestyle are complex and nuanced. 3 For present purposes, however, a more simple articulation of the term will suffice. Lifestyle can mean “mode of living,” 4 including “patterns of action” 5 and “patterns of ways of living.” 6 Without rendering judgment, one observation that can fairly be made about the current lifestyles and associated behaviors of Americans is that they indirectly and directly lead to the emission of a high volume of greenhouse gases (“GHGs”). 7 Although an American diplomat is said to have remarked in preparing for the Rio Earth Summit that “‘the