Comment by fastball
This assumes all emissions / externalities are created equal, which they are not.
This assumes all emissions / externalities are created equal, which they are not.
Yes, that. But also that these different externalities will have different responses to reduction at scale, which also impacts how effective action on a more "personal" level really is.
For example the OP was talking about plastic. A 2% reduction in plastic waste has a clear benefit, because any amount of plastic reduction is a bonus. However it is not clear that a 5% reduction in CO2 emissions due to Americans driving their cars less will have any meaningful difference when it comes to climate change.
You are right. Though for CO2 that simplification comes pretty close to true.