I don’t think it’s a secret that despite the overabundance of public messaging that “we” (the public) need to do x to “save the planet” or whatever, it’s not working because it’s entirely predicated on the idea that it’s individuals doing the majority of the damage, which isn’t the case.

Recycling is a particular scam. The idea of recycling basically gave everyone the green light to buy and use as many products that were “recyclable” as they wanted and could afford. The businesses making those products, in no small part started using “recyclable” plastics for nearly everything. People were satisfied that it was recyclable, with the three arrows in the package and that was it. All the while, recycling alone likely doubled the number of waste collection trucks on the road (increasing the amount of fuel needed) doubled the number of trucks needed to do collections of waste, and, as many have since pointed out, was largely not helpful, considering that plastics are basically impossible to recycle effectively at scale, into any product that anyone can use. Only a very small amount of plastic was ever able to be effectively recycled, and the vast majority was basically just landfill with extra steps.

So we polluted a fuckton more on an idea that it would save the planet, an instead, we just killed it more with trucks and oil.

This isn’t a new story, and it’s never been your fault. The last frame in this comic is what should have been done all along, but we were sold some bullshit lie so an asshole we’ve never met can buy another yacht.

And there’s still legions of people engaging in wasteful practices and supporting companies that want you to throw out their products as soon as they release a “newer/better” version of the same. I’m looking at you, Apple. Sure, you’ve stepped back on this a little bit in the past few years, but remember when you intentionally slowed down millions of phones because they were 2+ years old, and for no other reason? I do.

Net Zero carbon emissions (or any other pollutant) shouldn’t be the goal. It should be the minimum fucking standard.