It is a legitimately good plan, I just wish they weren't also mandating the Federal workforce back to the office, kind of undercuts all of this since it will add so many additional commuters and by extension greenhouse gases.
this post was submitted on 13 Jun 2024
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Not defending return to office, but public transit, EVs, walking, biking, etc. I can't imagine federal employees that aren't already in offices already making up anywhere near the 12% total carbon reduction for the entire country. This is a remarkable policy, now let's just ramp those prices up (and it would be nice if it made its way south to the US).
This would be a good solution if they were accessible. However where I live EVS cost too much for anyone unless you are far out stripping the median income, as an example the last comprehensive study put Atlantic Canada where I live at a median income of $32,175, even the cheapest electric cars run ~$55,000, used EVS exist and are more affordably priced but often need expensive battery replacements, and are an extremely short supply.
Municipal policy makes bikes share the road, with most of the interconnecting roads being strodes which makes biking just suicide with extra steps, I actually did try to ride a bike but a few too many close calls made me stop.
I used the bus here for 7 years while I went to school, however as a means of transportation for employment it is just a non-option, it is neither widespread enough, nor does it run often enough.
I'm not trying to shoot down solutions just after being in the situation for so long ICE cars are the only accessible and dependable mode of transportation in this city. And believe me I have been trying my hardest to find alternative ways and to fight the battle for better transit but as of right now I can guarantee you that all it has done is add thousands of ICE cars to the road.
Politicians can't get their back pats if there's no one to pat their backs.
Is it me or 12% is kinda low for such a big system to manage?
Don't get me wrong, we need to tackle this problem from every direction, but I was expecting more, especially by 2030.
The problem is that carbon pricing high enough to induce a rapid shift is also going to be really painful, and difficult to sustain politically. So while it can be part of the picture, it'll also take significant other efforts in addition to a price on carbon to get off fossil fuels fast enough.